To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any assessment that has been made of the extent to which financial barriers limit access to commercial pilot training for people from lower-income backgrounds in Northern Ireland.

The regulation of commercial pilot licensing and training is a reserved matter which sits with both the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority.

I know from discussions with airline and airport operators that costs, often exceeding £100,000, are a significant barrier, that creates a particular barrier for those from lower-income backgrounds, where access to family support, savings or affordable finance is likely to be more limited. I am also aware of that the barriers to training are similarly evident in Britain.

Although my department does not control the relevant reserved functions, its forthcoming Aviation Policy will include a commitment to engage with DfT and the CAA to ensure the north’s aviation training needs are understood and reflected where appropriate in future policy development.