Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - Air Routes
The Presiding Officer: I understand that the minister has damaged his back. I am sure that the Parliament will be understanding if he is not able to stand up.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson): It is all right—I am managing to stand so far, Presiding Officer.
We have regular contact with airport operators and airlines at ministerial and official levels on issues of mutual interest, including that of improving Scotland's international connectivity.
John Scott: In answer to a previous parliamentary question, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change confirmed:
"The Scottish Executive's Route Development Fund has contributed substantially to the growth of direct international air routes to and from Scotland."—[Official Report, Written Answers, 17 July 2007; S3W-1844.]
In answer to another question, he stated:
"An evaluation of the economic benefits arising from the Route Development Fund (RDF) will be carried out".—
[Official Report, Written Answers, 20 July 2007; S3W-1845.]
Scotland's airports are key to growing our economy and establishing connectivity to our international markets. The routes that were previously created by the fund are also key routes for facilitating migrant workers' access to our economy—
The Presiding Officer: Could we have a question, please?
John Scott: They contribute to population growth and increased participation rates in the Scottish labour market. Given that the cabinet secretary has said—
The Presiding Officer: Question, please, Mr Scott.
John Scott: I am coming to it, sir. Given that the cabinet secretary has said that the route development fund is not to be reinstated, what measures is the minister prepared to take to support the continuing development of Prestwick airport, which is so vital to the Ayrshire economy?
Stewart Stevenson: The member makes an interesting contribution. The development fund has been valuable, although it is worth noting that many of the Ryanair routes that are successfully operating out of Prestwick airport have not had support from it. The market is increasingly delivering without the interventions from ministers that there have been in the past.
We welcome engagement with airlines and airport operators to ensure that we are addressing the climate change agenda through more efficient aircraft and new modes of operating. That is an increasingly important part of our focus as well.
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): The minister will recognise the potential of Wick airport for the development of new international air routes. Does he agree that, in addition to the prospect of increased business usage of the airport as replacement industry and commerce are established while Dounreay continues to decommission, the northern North Sea and west of Shetland oil sectors present future opportunities for flights between Wick and Bergen and Haugesund—I hope that I have pronounced that correctly—in Norway and for helicopter movements between the northernmost airport on the Scottish mainland and marine oil and gas installations?
Stewart Stevenson: One of my few air journeys was to Wick, and coincidentally I spent my honeymoon in the 1960s in Haugesund, so the member has managed to press all the right buttons for me.
Wick airport has a number of particular advantages. It supports an area that is lacking in mainstream rapid communication, so it is very important. As part of my work, I have looked at whether it might be a suitable area for developing new approach facilities with the Civil Aviation Authority, using global positioning systems technology. That would increase the accessibility of Wick and reduce the number of diversions. We will continue to pay close attention to the development of Wick airport.
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): Perhaps the contortions that the minister undertook this morning in the transport debate have contributed to his bad back.Scotland's airports are key to growing our economy and establishing connectivity to our international markets. The routes that were previously created by the fund are also key routes for facilitating migrant workers' access to our economy—
The Presiding Officer: Could we have a question, please?
John Scott: They contribute to population growth and increased participation rates in the Scottish labour market. Given that the cabinet secretary has said—
The Presiding Officer: Question, please, Mr Scott.
John Scott: I am coming to it, sir. Given that the cabinet secretary has said that the route development fund is not to be reinstated, what measures is the minister prepared to take to support the continuing development of Prestwick airport, which is so vital to the Ayrshire economy?
Stewart Stevenson: The member makes an interesting contribution. The development fund has been valuable, although it is worth noting that many of the Ryanair routes that are successfully operating out of Prestwick airport have not had support from it. The market is increasingly delivering without the interventions from ministers that there have been in the past.
We welcome engagement with airlines and airport operators to ensure that we are addressing the climate change agenda through more efficient aircraft and new modes of operating. That is an increasingly important part of our focus as well.
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): The minister will recognise the potential of Wick airport for the development of new international air routes. Does he agree that, in addition to the prospect of increased business usage of the airport as replacement industry and commerce are established while Dounreay continues to decommission, the northern North Sea and west of Shetland oil sectors present future opportunities for flights between Wick and Bergen and Haugesund—I hope that I have pronounced that correctly—in Norway and for helicopter movements between the northernmost airport on the Scottish mainland and marine oil and gas installations?
Stewart Stevenson: One of my few air journeys was to Wick, and coincidentally I spent my honeymoon in the 1960s in Haugesund, so the member has managed to press all the right buttons for me.
Wick airport has a number of particular advantages. It supports an area that is lacking in mainstream rapid communication, so it is very important. As part of my work, I have looked at whether it might be a suitable area for developing new approach facilities with the Civil Aviation Authority, using global positioning systems technology. That would increase the accessibility of Wick and reduce the number of diversions. We will continue to pay close attention to the development of Wick airport.
Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): Or was it his honeymoon?
Des McNulty: That was a long time ago.
Before the Government took the decision on the ending of the route development fund, did it consult the international experts who the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth were so keen to highlight would be involved in all decisions that contributed to Scotland's prosperity? If so, what did they say?
Stewart Stevenson: The member, who was a minister in the previous Administration, will be well aware that the change in the status of route development support derived from decisions by the European Union in 2005. It is now possible to provide support only if the airports at both ends of the route have fewer than 5 million passengers per annum. Furthermore, we can support only routes within the EU, and we cannot assist non-EU carriers. That restricts the fund to the extent that the market is a much more effective way of ensuring that Scotland's economy continues to be supported by the development of new routes—and that is what is happening successfully today.
The Presiding Officer: I hope that the number of supplementary questions has helped the minister to stand up and sit down enough to ease his back.
