Question
I really welcome the Government’s U-turn on adopting Conservative policy and deciding to review airport drop-off charges, but in response to my written question, the Minister did not confirm that the Government’s anti-car surface access targets, the more than 100% increase in business rates that many airports have faced, or the crippling increases in employment taxes will form part of that review. Will the Minister ensure that all these important factors form part of the inquiry into what is leading to airport drop-off charges soaring under his Government?
Answer
The shadow Secretary of State does not seem to want to face up to the fact that this Government are taking decisive action to help our airports and airlines, whether it is signing off airport expansion across the country or modernising our airspace to provide community benefit alongside efficiencies. I have already been clear that the review will look at questions of affordability and access to airports. That is the right way to ensure that we have a system that is proportionate for consumers and airport users while addressing the fact that, as he mentioned, planning considerations are often built in with mode share targets that are linked to airport drop-off charges. This Government will take a proportionate approach to that review and to the aviation sector as a whole.17% point-scoring 33% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (36/100)
The reply appears to cover the question about surface access and mode share targets, including airport drop-off charges, though only by implication. It does not mention business rates or employment taxes; it offers only a general commitment that the review will consider affordability, which does not clearly confirm either will be examined. A member of the public would likely need to ask again for specifics on rates and employment taxes.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister ensure that the Government's surface access targets, which aim to reduce car use to airports, form part of the review into what is driving up airport drop-off charges? | Addressed | Direct | Statement 5 explicitly links mode share targets to airport drop-off charges and says the review addresses this, which implicitly confirms that surface access targets fall within the review's scope; statement 3 supports this by saying the review will look at access to airports. |
| Will the Minister ensure that increases in business rates faced by airports form part of the review into what is driving up airport drop-off charges? | Partially Addressed | Generic | Business rates are never mentioned; the only relevant statement is the general commitment that the review will look at affordability, which might encompass rates but does not engage with them or confirm they will be considered. |
| Will the Minister ensure that increases in employment taxes faced by airports form part of the review into what is driving up airport drop-off charges? | Partially Addressed | Generic | Employment taxes are never mentioned; the general statement that the review will address affordability is the only nearby content and does not specifically confirm that employment taxes will be examined. |