CENTENARY OF POWERED FLIGHT AND THE UK AVIATION INDUSTRY

Early day motion 251, tabled 9 December 2003 by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative). Signed by 51 members.

That this House notes that 17th December marks the centenary of powered, sustained and controlled flight; congratulates the UK's aviation industry for playing a major role in both civil and military aviation during that period; believes that aviation is critical to the UK's prosperity; recognises that air travel is essential for business and economic success; realises that almost 180,000 people in the UK are directly employed by the industry and that well over half a million jobs depend on aviation; understands that much of our tourism industry depends on the availability of air travel; appreciates that people in more remote parts of the country require air services for essential journeys; applauds the industry for successfully competing in a deregulated market and opening up air travel to all through lower fares; and wishes the industry well in facing the challenges that need to be addressed as it enters its second centenary.

Signatures by party: Conservative 45, Labour 2, DUP 1, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, UUP 1.