This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Extend furlough scheme for the UK Aviation sector to help stop redundancies
We call on the Government to intervene and provide support to the UK Aviation Industry by increasing the furlough period as per other European countries. If Government support has been provided, any form of agreement should caveat that future dividend pay outs be paused until recovery is ensured.
More details
easyJet has
- paid out £174m in dividends
- used the Governments job retention scheme
- received a £600m Government loan
- announced in excess of 1200 redundancies
- announced 3 base closures which will affect the surrounding area and local communities.
We emphasis the importance of protecting and maintaining regional connectivity. The Government must get a commitment from operators receiving financial assistance that they will continue to operate out of their current regional UK bases.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 24 August 2020
The government continues to provide comprehensive support to sectors and the economy as a whole to ensure that jobs and livelihoods are protected.
The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of Covid-19. The sector is important to the UK economy, and firms in the sector are able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. The measures have been designed to ensure that firms of any size receive the help they need to get through this difficult time.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is specifically designed to protect jobs and support businesses threatened by the pandemic, across the whole country and across all sectors. The scheme has successfully protected over 9 million jobs to date.
However, the Government’s judgement has been that it would be extremely challenging to target the CJRS on specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and to do so may not be the most effective or sensible way to provide longer term support for those sectors most affected by coronavirus.
It would also be difficult to target the CJRS at specific sectors without creating distortions, particularly since many firms work across multiple sectors. There are other schemes including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that can provide support to specific firms.
If firms across the most affected sectors find themselves in severe and urgent financial difficulties as a result of Covid-19, even following the Government‘s cross-economy wage and financial interventions, then the Government remains open to discussions about bespoke financial support but only as a last resort. Any intervention would need to be on terms appropriate to protect the interests of taxpayers.
HM Treasury
Related activity
MPs debate the future of the aviation industry
On Wednesday 18 November MPs debated the future of the aviation industry in in Westminster Hall.
This was a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
Watch the debate: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/eb055add-10fe-4e81-b706-12c5ac092e6a
Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-18/debates/92A97E41-BFEA-4D6C-9086-A57389090F07/AviationIndustry
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
MPs to debate the aviation, travel and tourism industries
On Thursday 10 June, MPs will debate the Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries in the main House of Commons Chamber.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will begin following questions to Ministers and Ministerial statements.
Watch the debate:
https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2e811f25-7a77-438d-9a60-dbea42b4c6e8
You can also read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it has finished:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-10
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Support for the aviation, travel and tourism industries to be debated by MPs
On Thursday 24 June, MPs will debate support for the aviation, travel and tourism industries in Westminster Hall.
This is a general debate that has been scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee, which gives opportunities to backbench Members of Parliament to bring forward debates of their choice. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues. However they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
Watch the debate (from 3.15pm, Thurs 24 June): https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/73a555bf-9c83-4387-9bbb-30677002d3c4
Read a transcript of the debate (available a few hours after it has finished): https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-24
Government debate on the aviation, travel and tourism industries
This debate follows an earlier debate that the Government scheduled on the aviation, travel and tourism industries. The Government's debate took place in the main House of Commons chamber on Thursday 10 June.
Watch the debate scheduled by the Government: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2e811f25-7a77-438d-9a60-dbea42b4c6e8?in=14:00:20
Read a transcript of the debate scheduled by the Government: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-10/debates/0922563F-114D-4D63-86F5-707A8DC2B434/AviationTravelAndTourismIndustries
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a Government Minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
MPs question Government on plans for international travel
On Tuesday 29 June, MPs questioned the Government about plans for international travel.
You can watch the questions and the Government's response on Parliament TV: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/bbac374c-b46f-477f-bac9-e0fdbbf9f949?in=13:28:25
You can read the questions and the Government's response on the Hansard website: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-29/debates/65D669AA-8596-45BA-93C7-19E206117C21/InternationalTravel
Why was the Government questioned about plans for international travel?
If an urgent or important matter arises which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to ask an urgent question.
Jim McMahon MP applied to ask the Government about plans for international travel, and this request was granted by the Speaker.
Find out more about Urgent Questions here:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/urgent-questions/
MPs launch inquiry into how the Government can support the recovery of the UK aviation sector
The House of Commons Transport Committee is holding an inquiry into supporting recovery in the UK aviation sector.
The MPs on the Committee will examine how airlines and airports are recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. They will also look at how Government policy has affected international travel, including how travel requirements like PCR testing affected the international travel system.
Read about the inquiry here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/153/transport-committee/news/157405/clearance-for-takeoff-transport-committee-launches-inquiry-to-plot-aviation-sector-route-to-recovery/
You can find future announcements about the inquiry here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1473/airlines-and-airports-supporting-recovery-in-the-uk-aviation-sector/
What is the Transport Committee?
The Transport Committee is a cross-party group of MPs appointed by the House of Commons to scrutinise the work of the Department for Transport, the Government department responsible for the English transport network.
The Department is also responsible for a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, or Northern Ireland Executive.
Find out more about the Transport Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/153/transport-committee/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work: https://twitter.com/CommonsTrans
You can also sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/