HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc398-9W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the results of the SPASM computer model run on the assumptions that air travel would by 2030 pay the same rates of tax as those currently applicable to car travel. [135183]

Dr. Howells

The modelling shows that, with aviation fuel taxed at the same rate as motor vehicle fuel and with VAT imposed on all flights departing from UK airports, the number of passengers using UK airports would rise from 180 million in 2000 to around 315 million in 2030. This assumes that the increase in tax causes the same percentage decrease in demand for air travel.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the responses from the public to the consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the United Kingdom will be made available for public inspection. [135192]

Dr. Howells

We have received over 400,000 responses to the consultation. These are being analysed, and an index and retrieval system is being developed. We shall make the responses available before the end of this year, except where consultees have explicitly requested confidentiality.

Responses from some key stakeholders are already in the public domain, and can be viewed on the relevant web sites.