§ Tom BrakeTo 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 the causal processes and mechanisms responsible for (i) past and (ii) potential future modal shifts between air transport and other modes of transport for (a) passengers and (b) freight transport, distinguishing between (1) internal and (2) international flights. [81399]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis subject is likely to be covered in the responses to the national airport consultation which closes on 30 November. In preparation for the national consultation, the Regional Air Services Coordination Study [RASCO], available on www.airconsult.gov.uk describes work done by the Strategic Rail Authority on 181W the potential for rail/air substitution so far as domestic passengers are concerned. "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom:South East", available on the same website, refers [pages 155–56] to Tier 2 documents Nos. 39,40, and 67 which deal with air freight. The service quality improvements resulting from use of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link are expected to result in some transfer of international air passengers to Eurostar.