Future Air and Sea Transport Policy Consultation - May 2005

20 September 2005

The Economic Development Committee has undertaken a review of the Island’s air and sea transport policy, and the conclusion of this review has today been put out to interested parties for comment prior to the policy being presented to the States for debate after the summer recess.

The Committee in undertaking the review has done so within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2005/2010 and the Economic Growth Plan. The Economic Growth Plan states that “the overarching policy to ensure that the external transport infrastructure supports economic growth is that market forces should be allowed to operate where there is no clear indication of market failure or threat to required service levels”.

The Strategic Plan calls for an open economy which encourages competition and minimises the cost of doing business, together with the reduction in red tape through the removal of unnecessary regulation, and this has also had an important influence on the Committee’s thinking.

The President of the Committee, Deputy Gerald Voisin, has stated that: "It is the view of my Committee that States’ interference in the market place through the regulation of the Island’s air and sea transport services is not in the best interests of the users of those services, other than in those situations where such regulation is required to ensure that an essential service is provided. However, before asking States members whether they support this view the Committee wishes to obtain comments from interested parties such as transport operators and user groups."

Comments on the Committee’s policy report are required by 8 July 2005. Comments in writing should be sent to the Economic Development Department, 26-28 Bath Street, St Helier, JE2 4ST for the attention of Colin Gibaut. All responses will be considered to be public domain information unless advised otherwise.

To obtain a copy of the Draft Air and Sea Transport Policy please click the following link Future Air and Sea Transport Policy Consultation (  191Kb) Alternatively, contact Economic Development on 705532.