§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for how long NATS has been negotiating with the preferred bidder, Sky Solutions, to agree the new Scottish air traffic control centre PFI; and if he will make a statement. [77919]
§ Dr. ReidNATS have been negotiating with Sky Solutions as preferred bidder since February 1997. Negotiations are continuing and I have now taken action to ensure that officials from my Department and from the Treasury are fully involved.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate the lead time required for construction and commissioning of a new Scottish air traffic control centre; [77921]
(2) what options for the procurement of a new Scottish air traffic control centre will be considered in response to decisions on the future structure of NATS; and if he will make a statement; [77918]
(3) what assessment he has made of the implications of a delay in commissioning a new Scottish air traffic control centre for (i) the airlines, (ii) air users and (iii) NATS in terms of (a) provision of services, (b) costs to service providers, (c) costs of continued use of existing air traffic control equipment at Atlantic House and (d) consequent costs of the control centre project; and if he will make a statement. [77922]
§ Dr. ReidNATS estimate the lead time for the New Scottish Centre to be about 5–6 years. The consultation period on the Government's preferred option for the future of NATS—establishing a public-private partnership—has now closed and we are actively considering the responses received. At the same time, the Government and NATS are reviewing the procurement options for the New Scottish Centre to ensure that they provide the best fit with the PPP and provides best value for the taxpayer, NATS customers and for Scotland. The Government are keen to ensure that the NSC is completed in time to meet NATS operational needs.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the scheduled operational date for the new Scottish air traffic control centre at Prestwick(a) was when the original tender documents were issued and (b) is currently. [77920]
§ Dr. ReidAt the time the original tender documents were issued in 1995, NATS estimated that the centre would be needed in around 2000. This date has been subject to revision in the light of ongoing planning work by NATS. Their current estimate is that it will be needed in 2005–06.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to implement the two centre strategy for air traffic management independently of any decision on the future structure and ownership of NATS; if implementation of this strategy will be mandatory for any future owner of NATS; and if he will make a statement. [77923]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government remain firmly committed to implementing a two-centre strategy for NATS and to having one of those centres at Prestwick. My Department50W is working closely with National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) to develop the arrangements for financing the project.
No final decisions have been taken on the future of NATS and my Department is currently developing detailed proposals, taking account of the views put to us in the recent public consultation. We will be making a statement in due course, but our commitment to the two-centre strategy will be reflected in any future arrangements for NATS.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the responses to the consultation on the proposed public-private partnership for NATS. [77924]
§ Dr. ReidWe concluded the public consultation on our proposals for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) on 31 January 1999. Some 230 responses were received. We will, in due course, make the responses publicly available, except in those cases where confidentiality was requested.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those recommendations contained in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency report on the technical audit of NATS new en route centre and future of air traffic management which NATS have implemented. [77917]
§ Dr. ReidWe have received the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency report on NATS new en route centre. Working with NATS, we are actively considering the suggestions and the best ways of implementing them. I will make a statement on this subject in due course.