Written question asked by John P Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 June 2009. It was answered by Ian Lucas (Labour) on Monday, 6 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Aviation

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the number of jobs in the UK dependent on the aviation industry.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.This Department does not produce estimates of the number of jobs in the UK dependent on the aerospace or aviation industries.The Society of British Aerospace Companies—the national trade association for the aerospace sector—estimates that 100,740 people were directly employed in the aerospace sector in 2008. This includes those employed in manufacturing of aircraft, systems, engines and equipment.Figures for the air transport industry are included in the Office of National Statistics employment figures in their Annual Business Enquiry. Their latest figures for total employment averaged over the year of 2007 indicate that 93,000 people were employed directly in the air transport industry and a further 48,000 people were employed in other activities supporting air transport. These figures relate primarily to those involved in transport of passengers or freight by air but do not cover all those employed at airports for retail, catering, baggage handling etc.

Secondary information