Question
Earlier this year, we saw an issue with Cornwall council being unable to secure any eligible bids for its public service obligation service from Newquay airport. Since then, the council has been scrabbling around trying to secure new commercial routes, which is very welcome and much needed. What consideration has the Minister given to more flexible PSO arrangements that might allow airports such as Newquay to bid in with a more commercial outlook on how we get that support?
Answer
PSO routes are crucial to connecting areas of the country such as Cornwall, which serve as regional economic catalysts to the nation’s capital. I note that since the end of the London-Newquay PSO in April, commercial connectivity has been retained, but I know that my hon. Friend is eager to see this work go further. The Department remains open to continued engagement with Cornwall council and options to maintain connectivity, and I will bear in mind his points about more flexibility in PSO arrangements as part of those discussions.
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The reply mentions public service obligation (PSO) flexibility by name but does not say whether the government will introduce it. Its only concrete position is that the Minister will 'bear in mind' the points in ongoing discussions with Cornwall council, which commits to nothing. The asker would likely need to ask again for a clear yes or no on whether more flexible PSO arrangements will be introduced.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Minister's or department's view on introducing more flexible Public Service Obligation arrangements that would allow airports such as Newquay to bid with a more commercial approach to securing air services? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply names PSO flexibility directly, but it states no view on introducing it. Its only concrete position is that the Minister will 'bear in mind' the points within ongoing discussions with Cornwall council, which is noncommittal about whether any change will be made. The statement that PSO routes are crucial to Cornwall describes the existing system rather than answering whether more flexible arrangements should be introduced. |