To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department has assessed any disparity in access to commercial pilot training, between individuals from Northern Ireland and those from other parts of the United Kingdom.

Commercial pilot licensing and training is a reserved matter. My department has therefore a very limited role in this area. The British Department for Transport commissioned a report ‘Options for Addressing the Cost of Pilot Training (2023)’. This identified finance as a key barrier to entering the pilot profession. Costs for a commercial pilot license can exceed £100,000. This report did not identify any specific barriers unique to the North as opposed to Great Britain. My Department will continue 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.