To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the merits of retaining policy-making in respect of non-commercial flight crew licensing in the UK; and if he will make a statement. (283509)

The Department for Transport consulted on the proposal to extend the European Aviation Safety Agency’s remit to air operations and flight crew licensing, including for non-commercial aviation, in 2006.

The subsequent EC Regulation 216/2008, which came into effect in April 2008, established Community competence for policy-making with regards to flight crew licences. However, in common with all EU member states, the UK has retained competence for policy-making with respect to licences for pilots of aircraft not covered by Regulation 216/2008. These are known as “Annex 2” aircraft and include: microlights, ex-military aircraft and home-built aircraft.