Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the government is hoping to reach a decision on the policy of refunding travel plans “as quickly as possible”.
Hunt, MP for South West Surrey and foreign secretary from 2018-19, wrote to Haslemere Travel owner Gemma Antrobus, who had contacted him as part of Abta’s Save Future Travel campaign.
But he warned that the “complexity of the sector” meant “a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t seem to be appropriate”.
Abta is calling for the UK government to act to buy more time for normally viable and healthy businesses to provide customer refunds, while protecting the customer’s right to receive that refund.
It wants an extension to the current 14-day window to issue refunds, initially to July 31, and for protection to be given to ‘refund credit notes’ offered in place of cash refunds in the interim.
Governments have already acted in other European countries such as France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, which have proposed temporary changes to existing regulations that Abta says are not fit for purpose in this current climate.
In his letter to Antrobus, chair of Aito Agents, Hunt said: “I know that groups such as Abta have been in talks with the UK government about possible support. As far as I am aware these talks are still ongoing, but I hope the financial support measures announced over the past few weeks are helping protect jobs and businesses.
“My team and I have been in direct contact with the transport secretary, who is leading on the issue, in the past few days. He reassured me that he is keen to find a solution as quickly as possible, however due to the complexity of the sector a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t seem to be appropriate and a more tailored support package is required.
“I will continue to push the transport secretary and his team to announce his measure as soon as possible.”
Posting the letter on Twitter, Antrobus questioned “is an answer imminent?”.
A personal response from our MP Jeremy Hunt. Is an answer imminent? @TheTNG@ABTAMembers@AITOHQ@TTGMedia@travelweeklypic.twitter.com/P8IGdV6Qqp
— Gemma Antrobus (@LuxuryTravelGem) April 8, 2020