§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice and assistance she is giving to the(a) airline and (b) aerospace industries in coping with the aftermath of 11 September; and if she will make a statement. [13713]
§ Mr. WilsonOfficials in the Department of Trade and Industry remain in close contact with the UK aviation industry in co-operation with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
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, an initiative which has subsequently been widely copied elsewhere. We are considering whether further aid should be paid to the UK airline industry, and will take guidelines issued recently by the European Commission on state aid fully into account in any decision.
The further effects on the aerospace manufacturing industry remain uncertain. The Government and the aerospace industry will continue to work together to ensure a successful future for the industry as the situation becomes clearer.