§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on(a) the deferred payment of air passenger duty, (b) the extra costs of airline and airport security and (c) maintaining insurance cover to airlines, since 11 September; and if he will make a statement. [R] [12975]
§ Mr. JamiesonWe have received various representations from the air transport industry on all of these issues. The Government moved quickly to underwrite, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the airline industry. The initiative has subsequently been widely copied elsewhere and was recently extended until 457W 23 November. The European Commission has set out guidelines on emergency aid measures which were endorsed at the meeting of European Transport Ministers on 16 October. We will take these guidelines into account in considering whether further aid should be provided to the British airline industry.