HC Deb 18 June 1958 vol 589 cc1111-2
40. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his future plans for the control of aircraft over the United Kingdom to ensure proper spacing in the air lanes, to eliminate the risk of collision in the air, and generally to increase the safety factor.

Mr. Watkinson

I have authorised an extensive modernisation plan for our three Air Traffic Control Centres. Under this plan, aircraft using the airways will be under continuous radar surveillance throughout flight over this country My Department is already examining proposals submitted by the radio industry for new radar and remoting equipment to meet this requirement. Improvements are also being made to the control facilities at our major airports.

The revised system will enable our controllers to handle more traffic and still further to increase safety; it includes provision for the progressive introduction of semi-automatic control equipment and for the necessary training of specialised staff.

Financial approval in principle has been given for the capital expenditure involved which at current costs will amount to about £5 million spread over the next five years.

Mr. Beswick

I thank the Minister for that reply; but does he realise that the public, who have heard all these stories about near-misses and who have seen the approach speed of aircraft already go up to the 1,000 miles per hour range, will expect this programme to be given absolute priority? May I ask if he has the fullest possible co-operation of the military people? Has he yet solved the problem of having civil control over military aircraft which may want to pass through the air lanes?

Mr. Watkinson

The answer is, of course, that we have to give over-all top priority to this problem of controlling air space for these aircraft and many other aircraft, and that is being done. That is the purpose of the programme which I have announced. As to the problem of unified control, I am satisfied that we have now a much better arrangement and the control of military aircraft which fly down the air lanes will be exactly the same kind of control as that for civil aircraft.