Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide enforcement powers to the Civil Aviation Authority, commensurate with those available in the EU and the United States, given the withdrawal of Article 16 of EU regulation 1107/2006, which previously provided for action in individual breaches of the relevant code.

The Government is committed to protecting the rights of passengers when travelling by air and consulted on a range of consumer issues in the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation. This included seeking views on additional administrative powers for the CAA to enforce consumer protection laws, and what more can be done to protect those with accessibility needs when travelling by air, including increased compensation for damage to wheelchairs and mobility equipment for domestic UK flights. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of responses and will set out next steps shortly.

The revocation of Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, as retained in UK law following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), does not mean that Regulation 1107/2006 is unenforceable. Article 16 was a provision addressed to EU Member States to lay down rules on penalties for breach of the Regulation, which the UK had already done. As the UK has left the EU, it is no longer required or appropriate.