2nd Special Report - An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2012–2013

This is the government's response, published 11 February 2013.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the report and the importance of air transport to Northern Ireland, but states that it "cannot accept" the recommendation to expedite the Airports Commission and that several matters are devolved or for the Northern Ireland Executive.

• On airport capacity, it says it "cannot accept" that the Airports Commission's work be expedited, citing the need for a "robust evidence base"; it has asked Sir Howard Davies for an interim report on how current capacity "might be optimised".
• On protecting regional slots, the UK has raised the issue with the European Commission, but it is "proving challenging" to devise a mechanism without distorting the market. The Department for Transport will keep the Committee apprised of developments.
• On Air Passenger Duty, it notes the devolved zero rate for direct long-haul flights from Northern Ireland from 1 January 2013. Any further devolution would "need to be funded by the Northern Ireland Executive", and different intra-UK rates would not be possible under EU law.
• On visas, officials continue to meet on possible visit visa alignment with Ireland, but the government has "no plans" to align the cost of a UK visit visa with a Schengen visa.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error