§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he proposes to encourage people to travel by air. [R] [12974]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government are working hard to help return the aviation industry to business as usual as quickly as possible.
Following the events of 11 September security measures have been enhanced at all UK airports and for all flights from the UK. We are carrying out a fundamental review of aviation security to ensure that air travel is as safe from terrorist attacks as we can make it while, at the same time, balancing security with our freedom to travel.
Alongside increased security measures and intervention to provide the industry with third party war risk insurance, the Government are also actively involved in helping to restore confidence in air travel. As part of this I undertook a programme of visits to airports on 25 October, taking in Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol, which gave me the opportunity to press home the message that we should not let the fear of terrorism undermine our freedom to fly.