§ 2.48 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent the provision of equipment for Eurocontrol is being based on technical and not on political considerations, in view of the necessity for the integration of military and air control in Western Europe as part of the proposed joint air traffic control system.]
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, under the Convention, the aims of Eurocontrol's services are to provide for the safety of air nagivation and the orderly and rapid flow of air traffic, taking into account military needs. The Permanent Commission and Agency have not yet been set up. The interim Association is engaged on preparatory studies designed to achieve these aims. No question of procuring any equipment has yet arisen.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, is it not a fact that quite a number of people who supply equipment are already in the field to try to supply it for the civil aircraft; and is it not desirable that military and civil aircraft should both have the same type of equipment?—which may not be the case if the American manufacturers are enabled to get the orders which they desire.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I have no doubt that all manufacturers of equipment are making their plans with a view to submitting them to Eurocontrol when it is set up. With regard to the equipment used by military air- 8 craft, that is one of the points that will be taken into consideration by Eurocontrol when it comes to consider the matter.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, are we to have any hope that we are not going to be bamboozled about the quality of this control by artificial scientific apparatus? Many people in this country were most dissatisfied with the judgment which was given in this matter which put the American product before the British product, although we all thought that the British one was the better.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, it will be the duty of Eurocontrol to try to find the best equipment, taking into account considerations of safety and navigation, and not considerations of who makes the equipment.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, will Parliament be advised as to what recommendations are being made before consent is given?
§ LORD DENHAMOur representatives, both on the Commission and on the Committee of the Agency, will have some considerable say in what equipment is to be chosen. On this point it will be a question of weighted voting, and your Lordships will no doubt remember that our weighted voting is the highest—about 25 per cent. here. I do not think it will be possible for Parliament to be advised before the discussions have taken place.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, I hope that the noble Lord who raised this matter will return to it on the next N.A.T.O. debate.