HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 cc174-5W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department since 1997 or is planned on increases in air passenger numbers for the United Kingdom which(a) have taken place, and (b) are projected. [81409]

Mr. Jamieson

Since 1997, the results of research on increases in air passenger numbers have been published in "Air Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom 2000, published by the Department in May 2000 and in the national airport consultation documents, published in July this year.

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the causal processes responsible for(a) past and (b) potential future increases in air passenger numbers and air freight; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; [81416]

(2) what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the causal processes and mechanisms responsible for (i) past and (ii) potential future increases in air passenger numbers and air freight. [81417]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department's air traffic forecasts "Air Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom 2000", published in May 2000 considers the key economic drivers behind past and projected future increases in air passenger numbers. In addition the factors underlying growth of air passenger are freight traffic are addressed in the consultation documents on regional air services and airports published in July 2002. Supporting material on freight can be found in documents 39,40 and 67 referred to in Annex C of the South East Consultation document. The Department has had no specific discussions or representations on this question, although it may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what(a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the past and potential effect on passenger numbers of the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven aviation demand; [81423]

(2) what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the past and potential effect on passenger numbers of the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven aviation demand. [81422]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department's air traffic forecasts, published in 2000 considers the factors underlying growth of business and leisure air traffic. No research on the inter-relationship between consumer-driven and producer-driven demand has been conducted or is planned, but insofar as producer-driven demand leads to higher GDP than would otherwise be the case, the resulting higher incomes will tend to lead to more leisure travel. The Department has had no specific discussions or representations on this issue, although this subject may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department, or is planned, on the role of advertising and promotion in(a)the past and potential future growth of air traffic and (b) past and potential future modal shift between air transport and other modes. [81426]

Mr. Jamieson

No research has been conducted or is planned on the role of advertising or promotion in either the growth of air traffic or modal shift between aviation and other forms of transport.

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the role of advertising and promotion in (i) the past and potential future growth of air traffic and (ii) past and potential future modal shift between air transport and other modes. [81427]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department has undertaken no work and have had no specific discussions or representations on the role of advertising and promotion in relation to these questions, although this subject may be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November.