HL Deb 27 January 1970 vol 307 cc263-5

2.40 p.m.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My 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 whether they are aware of misgivings expressed by civil aviation pilots concerning existing air traffic control in the Stansted holding area; why Stansted has no radar for traffic control and whether direct telephonic communication exists between Air Traffic Control, Stansted, and the adjacent military airfield of Wethersfield.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware that some civil pilots have expressed some misgivings, although apparently in certain cases with a misunderstanding of facilities already provided. There is direct telephone communication between Air Traffic Control, Stansted, and the military aerodrome at Wethersfield, to assist effective co-ordination of the traffic generated by these two aerodromes. The amount of flying activity at and near Stansted consists mainly of training, and the comparatively small number of public transport movements has not been sufficient to justify the expense of installing, maintaining and operating radar equipment. However, in view of the recent rate of growth of public transport movements at Stansted the possible case is being re-examined for providing radar to serve not only the air traffic using the aerodrome but also air traffic in the surrounding airspace.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, while I am very satisfied to know that the matter of radar is being examined, may I ask the Minister this question? Could he give an assurance that financial considerations will in no way stand in the path of the installation of radar if that is considered justified on grounds of safety?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, if there was an absolute safety requirement certainly the money would have to be found; but in this and in most other cases it is question of priorities and of the relative importance of a need. For example, there are certainly other areas to the North of London which would qualify for financial assistance before Stansted. I have in mind, for example, the Luton area.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord this further question? I am rather worried that financial considerations should lead to a series of priorities for radar installation. Would not the Government agree that if a radar installation is desirable in the interest of maximum safety, then financial considerations should not be allowed to stand in the way of the provision of the necessary plant?

LORD BESWICK

Certainly, my Lords. I would say that if the provision of money would definitely provide safety, whereas otherwise there was a lack of safety, the money must be found. But it is the definition of the need which is the only reason why I do not give an absolutely unqualified assurance.

THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

My Lords, may I ask a supplementary question? Could the Minister tell me why Stansted cannot have a control zone or special rule zones together with the necessary surveillance radar?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the difficulty is that the more control zones you have, the less air space there is for other people to fly about in. It is not advisable to have a control zone unless it is absolutely necessary. What is now being investigated is whether the case is proved for having a control space around Stansted. Up to the present time it has not been thought that public transport movements there necessarily justify the expenditure of public money for this purpose.