Aircraft Emissions (Hansard, 22 June 2004)

§ Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to(a) the Prime Minister's statement to the hon. Member for Lewes on 14 June 2004, Official Report, column 530 and (b) his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy), on 16 June 2004, Official Report, column 769, what he assesses to be the maximum reduction that can he achieved in average aircraft emissions by 2020 from technological advances. [179973]

§ Mr. McNulty
The Government's Air Transport White Paper published in December 2003 notes (para. 3.38) that the research targets agreed by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) suggest that a 50 per cent. reduction in CO₂ production by 2020 can be achieved. This target has been adopted by the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AeIGT), a joint government and industry initiative which aims, among other things, to promote and deliver technological advancement. The target, which applies to aircraft entering service by 2020 relative to a 2000 base, comprises improvements in engine and aircraft design, air traffic management systems and flight operations.

§ Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to secure an EU agreement on aircraft emissions trading before the end of the UK presidency of the EU. [179974]

§ Mr. McNulty
We are pursuing vigorously the commitment in "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper to press for aviation joining the EU emissions trading scheme in 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter. The proposal is subject to consensus with other member states, and we aim to secure early EU agreement. We will make this a priority for the UK presidency of the EU in 2005.

§ Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the steps he has 1315W taken since the publication of the White Paper on aviation (a) to make progress on an emissions trading scheme and (b) to seek agreement within the EU for a tax on aviation fuel. [179975]

§ Mr. McNulty
The information is as follows.
(a) We are pursuing vigorously the commitment in "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper to press for aviation joining the EU emissions trading scheme in 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter. We are working inter-departmentally to resolve the issues that we have already identified (summarised in Annex B of the White Paper), and have held constructive discussions with officials from the European Commission and other member states.
(b) The White Paper recognises the importance of ensuring that aviation meets its external costs, including its environmental costs. An analysis by the European Commission in 1998–99 suggested that an EU-wide tax would deliver minimal environmental benefit, and could create competitive distortions. The Government remain committed to applying the "polluter pays" principle to aviation, building on the work in the March 2003 report, "Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments". Further details are set out in the White Paper.