§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend the provision of public service orders. [18724]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
Any application for the imposition of a public service obligation will be considered by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions against the criteria set out in European Regulation 2408/92.
§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria have to be met in order for a route to be granted a public service order. [18729]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
The use of public service obligations is governed by European Council Regulation 2408/92 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. This empowers members states to impose a PSO in respect of scheduled air services on a route serving a peripheral or development region or on a thin route to any regional airport, where such a route is considered vital for the economic development of the region in which the airport is located and where an adequate standard of service would not be provided by carriers having regard 790W solely to their commercial interest. Standard of service covers continuity, regularity, capacity and pricing. In assessing adequacy, member states are expected to have regard to the public interest and to the availability of other forms of transport and whether these offer a reasonable alternative to flying.