Airports in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Jul 2021 Closed: 15 Sep 2022 Parliament page
The Committee will be inquiring into airports in Scotland. The focus will be: the impacts of coronavirus and how this has been managed; how the local community is affected by the airport - including through tourism, access to work, and emergency services; and environmental concerns within the footprint of the … Read more
5 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
19 Jul
2022
Correspondence
19 Jul
2022
Correspondence
15 Jun
2022
Report published
22 Mar
2022
Report published
15 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
1 Feb
2022
Oral evidence
1 Feb
2022
Correspondence
1 Feb
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
10 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
10 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
13 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
13 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Meeting away from Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
1 Feb 2022
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Robert Courts · Department for Transport
10 Jan 2022
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Brian McClean · AGS Airports Limited Gordon Dewar · Edinburgh Airport Inglis Lyon · Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
13 Dec 2021
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Derek Provan · AGS Airports Limited Gordon Dewar · Edinburgh Airport Inglis Lyon · Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
22 Nov 2021
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Dave Curtis · NATS Karen Dee · Airport Operators Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland HC 601 22 Mar 2022 12 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
12 results
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
The purchase and funding provided to Glasgow Prestwick Airport represents significant issues for the taxpayer.
The purchase and funding provided to Glasgow Prestwick Airport represents significant issues for the taxpayer. Additionally, the funding received by Glasgow Prestwick Airport from the Scottish Government has ensured there is not a level playing field across airports in Scotland, … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights funding for the Airspace Modernisation Programme while emphasizing the 'user pays' principle.
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Aviation connectivity from isolated communities in Scotland is a necessity.
Aviation connectivity from isolated communities in Scotland is a necessity. Lifeline services are essential for the transport of essential supplies, for the movement of people for medical appointments and key personnel in the energy industry as well as to support … Read more
Government Response
The government shares the committee's view on good communication with devolved administrations, will continue to work in partnership with them, and the Department for Transport will continue its work to learn lessons and improve aviation connectivity.
Scotland Office
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
The airspace modernisation programme has the potential to benefit the whole of the UK by...
The airspace modernisation programme has the potential to benefit the whole of the UK by making journey times quicker, quieter, and helping to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. We are concerned that this programme, that can offer significant environmental benefits, … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of the aviation sector and supports sustainable growth, highlighting its strategic framework and recent funding for the Airspace Modernisation Programme while emphasizing the 'user pays' principle.
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We are convinced that a UK Government-led recovery plan for airports is urgently needed.
We are convinced that a UK Government-led recovery plan for airports is urgently needed. The paused strategic framework that is being developed by the Department for Transport for the aviation industry to help them recover from the impact of the … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of the aviation sector and supports sustainable growth, highlighting its strategic framework and recent funding for the Airspace Modernisation Programme while emphasizing the 'user pays' principle.
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5 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government’s strategic framework for aviation recovery should include: • How...
We recommend that the UK Government’s strategic framework for aviation recovery should include: • How airports in Scotland can increase their passenger numbers and grow their businesses whilst meeting net zero targets and using greener methods of operating; • How … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of the aviation sector and supports sustainable growth, highlighting its strategic framework and recent funding for the Airspace Modernisation Programme while emphasizing the 'user pays' principle.
Scotland Office
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
During the pandemic, the differing policy choices of the Scottish and UK Government had an...
During the pandemic, the differing policy choices of the Scottish and UK Government had an effect on the financial stability of airports in Scotland as these policies did not always align. Edinburgh Airport maintained that the Scottish Government’s overly cautious … Read more
Government Response
The government shares the committee's view on good communication with devolved administrations, will continue to work in partnership with them, and the Department for Transport will continue its work to learn lessons and improve aviation connectivity.
Scotland Office
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7 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We welcome the publishing of the Intergovernmental Review on 13 January 2022 and we look...
We welcome the publishing of the Intergovernmental Review on 13 January 2022 and we look forward to seeing how interministerial groups will work together to consider how their separate policies will interact with each other in the future, particularly should … Read more
Government Response
The government shares the committee's view on good communication with devolved administrations, will continue to work in partnership with them, and the Department for Transport will continue its work to learn lessons and improve aviation connectivity.
Scotland Office
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8 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the interministerial group on transport produce a report within the next six...
We recommend that the interministerial group on transport produce a report within the next six months outlining the steps they will take to improve communications between devolved nations around the timings of travel restrictions. It should investigate how to develop … Read more
Government Response
While the government acknowledges the importance of communication, it will not task the Inter-ministerial Group (IMG) on Transport with producing the report. Instead, the Department for Transport will continue its work to learn lessons and improve aviation connectivity, but the IMG is only a discussion forum, not a decision-making body.
Scotland Office
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9 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Now that we have left the European Union, the Scottish Government and the UK Government...
Now that we have left the European Union, the Scottish Government and the UK Government should work together to resolve any legal issues around the Highlands and Islands exemption as quickly as possible. This will allow for the Scottish Government … Read more
Government Response
The Government acknowledges the recommendation, notes that APD is a UK-wide tax, and that any changes to the Highlands and Islands exemption are a matter for the Scottish Government should they introduce ADT.
Scotland Office
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10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We received limited submissions about ringfencing the funds raised by Air Passenger Duty for environmental...
We received limited submissions about ringfencing the funds raised by Air Passenger Duty for environmental purposes. However, we consider the issue to be worth further investigation.
Government Response
The government notes the committee's consideration of ringfencing Air Passenger Duty for environmental purposes and highlights the role of the Consolidated Fund and the UK's Emissions Trading Scheme in decarbonizing aviation.
Scotland Office
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11 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government investigate how money raised from Air Passenger Duty could...
We recommend that the UK Government investigate how money raised from Air Passenger Duty could be used for environmental purposes and report the results of this investigation to the House by the end of 2022.
Government Response
The government explains that APD's primary objective is to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to public finances and highlights the UK's Emissions Trading Scheme and other measures for decarbonization.
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12 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth Report - Airports in Scotland
Scottish Airports told us that they welcomed the reduction in Air Passenger Duty but would...
Scottish Airports told us that they welcomed the reduction in Air Passenger Duty but would like to have seen this take place in 2022 rather than waiting for its introduction in 2023. However, we recognise the operational issues that carriers … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it has already introduced APD reforms that will bolster air connectivity within the Union.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 12 of 5 classified
Accepted 1
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 2
Total 5 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
19 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from Gordon Dewar, CEO of Edinburgh Airport, following up on the Airports in Scotland inquiry letter on 20 June, dated 4 July 2022
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19 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from Derek Provan, CEO of AGS Airports following up to the Airports in Scotland inquiry letter on 20 June, dated 24 June 2022
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1 Feb 2022 Correspondence with Inglis Lyon, Managing Director, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, on flights between Inverness and London Heathrow, dated 18 January and 25 January 2022
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