HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 c239W
Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of section G(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 1971 on the employment without work-permits of non-EU pilots as crew for UK-based airlines. [35733]

Mr. Jamieson

My officials have discussed the working of immigration legislation in the aviation field regularly with colleagues in the employment and immigration services. In principle I am not opposed to non-EU pilots directly employed by UK airlines having to obtain work permits, but I could not support any proposals for changing current arrangements which would create operational difficulties for UK airlines in terms of their ability to wet-lease foreign aircraft to meet emergency situations or seasonal fluctuations in demand, or for other acceptable reasons within the terms of the EU legislation governing the use of foreign registered aircraft by community airlines.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage other EU countries to validate UK national pilot licences on the same basis as the UK validates the national licences of other EU member states. [35732]

Mr. Jamieson

The matter of validation of national pilot licences within the EU is addressed by EC Directive 91/670/EEC. The Directive requires EU member states to recognise those licences issued by other member states but allows an individual state to require additional requirements if there is reasonable doubt as to the equivalence of the licence. In compliance with the Directive, the UK requires all applicants for licence validation to pass an examination in national aviation law and in some circumstances further proficiency checks. Other EU member states similarly impose additional requirements for the validation of other states' licences, including UK pilot licences. These additional requirements are required to meet the national legislation of the state and are in accordance with the terms of the EC Directive 91/670/EEC.