Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 18 December (HL12286), what steps they are taking to improve transport connectivity between the regions and nations of the UK; and how those steps relate to the allocation of landing slots at UK airports.

The government recognises how important transport networks, including regional airport connectivity, can be to their local areas and surrounding regions.

The Aviation Strategy Green Paper ‘Aviation 2050’, has renewed the government’s commitment to support routes into London that may be at risk, commercially, through the establishment of Public Service Obligations (PSOs). The paper also considers what further role the government should have in supporting growth at our regional airports.

In addition, the government has set out a clear ambition that at least 14 domestic routes operate from an expanded Heathrow Airport. The Green Paper has identified how Heathrow, with the support of government if needed, can make this happen.

The government is also seeking views on reforming the process for allocating new slots in the Green Paper, with the objectives of facilitating competition and increasing both domestic and international connectivity.