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Written Parliamentary Questions: 24th February 2006

Aviation Policy

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the 2006 Aviation White Paper Progress Review will be published; whether it will include revised passenger forecasts to take account of the increased cost of oil; whether his Department will seek the views of (a) other Government departments and (b) external stakeholders on progress made; and whether it will include an assessment of the role reductions in aviation emissions will play in the target to cut overall emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050. (John Hemming)
A:The Department for Transport (DfT) expects to publish a Progress Report on the policies and proposals set out in the Air Transport White Paper (ATWP), by the end of 2006. Paragraph 12.29 of the Air Transport White Paper says that we will continue to regularly publish data on air travel and to update traffic forecasts in the light of trends. Movement in oil price is one of several explanatory factors in air transport forecasts.

The DfT is currently seeking the views of other Government departments. It also engages with external stakeholders on progress made, in a range of fora including the ATWP External Advisory Group.

The support paper to the Air Transport White paper, Aviation and Global Warming, includes forecasts of aviation emissions relative to other emissions. These forecasts are kept under review. However, the Energy White Paper 60 per cent. reduction target focuses on domestic emissions, and does not include international aviation. This is because emissions from international flights do not currently count in the national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions, there being no international agreement yet on ways of allocating such emissions. (Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

Aviation Policy

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken towards producing an evaluation strategy to assess the effectiveness of the Government's aviation policy; what the proposed timetable is for the production of this strategy; and what processes will be used to formulate it.(John Hemming)
A:I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1471W. The Government are committed to the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the policies of the Air Transport White Paper. We will report by the end of 2006 on progress. (Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

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