HC Deb 11 June 2002 vol 386 cc1139-40W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many international flights there were from the UK(a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years. [60655]

Mr. Jamieson

The number of international flights from the UK(a) over the North Atlantic (b) to other EU countries and (c) to all other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years is shown in the table. Flights are attributed only to their final overseas destination and not, if any, to intermediate destinations. There were a similar number of international flights arriving in the UK.

Flights from the UK over the North Atlantic1
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1997 8,786 11,053 12,782 10,677
1998 9,840 12,226 13,782 11,674
1999 10,733 12,730 14,208 12,103
2000 11,380 13,256 14,550 12,332
2001 11,442 13,597 14,171 10,897
1 Flights to USA and Canada

Flights from the UK to other EU countries
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1997 77,409 92,483 99,661 86,195
1998 83,351 99,510 109,436 93,357
1999 89,997 106,602 117,345 99,812
2000 97,906 115,318 127,260 105,324
2001 100,194 119,921 130,702 102,997

Note:

For the purpose of this analysis Gibraltar has been included in 'other EU countries'

Flights from the UK to other world destinations
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
1997 29,621 34,194 36,624 33,264
1998 31,363 35,272 38,332 34,219
1999 33,240 36,186 38,917 34,216
2000 33,074 36,203 39,577 35,725
2001 33,852 37,537 40,031 34,329

Note:

Flights are attributed to the overseas country of destination and not to each point of call. For example a flight whose route is Gatwick—Paris—Tunis is allocated only to 'other world destinations'.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to the CAA on the relationship between the number of flights(a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations, and the level of the price cap that the CAA places on the fees that NATS charges airlines. [60656]

Mr. Jamieson

I have issued no guidelines on these matters to the CAA. Although the initial price cap on NATS was set by the Government, as is usual when a public entity is transferred to the private sector, the CAA is the economic regulator of NATS and the Government do not interfere with its discharge of its economic regulatory duties.