HL Deb 15 March 1984 vol 449 cc857-9

3.14 p.m.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the Government's answer on 27th January 1983, col. 365, that "the European Air Navigation Planning Group intends to review the air route structure regularly from now on", what progress has been made since then on this review.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the European Air Navigation Planning Group held several informal meetings between September 1982 and November 1983 to review air traffic service routes and associated navigational aids and proposed a number of improvements in the alignment of routes including all 10 routes criticised by IATA. At its subsequent formal meeting, the group adopted almost all the proposals unanimously, and recommended them for endorsement by ICAO. The concurrence of the military authorities in the countries concerned will be needed before the improved routes can be made available to civil air traffic. A specialised working group to review area navigation routes and the deployment of radio navigation aids every two and a half years is to be set up.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, the noble Lord will recall that in the statement of 27th January three steps were deemed necessary before the restructuring of these routes would come into effect? Can the noble Lord say whether all these three steps have already been implemented? On what he has stated, can he say when he expects that final approval will be given? Does he recall that his noble friend Lord Cockfield, who helped a great deal on these matters, did say on that same date of 27th January that we should have greater efficiency in the operation of civil air transport in Europe and a considerable saving in costs? Is the noble Lord able to comment on that?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, so far as the noble Baroness's last question is concerned, only the airlines can answer as to the exact saving of costs in monetary terms. I can, however, confirm that the Government agree with IATA's calculations of mileage that will be saved and which we hope is, indeed, being saved. As to the three steps mentioned in the earlier comment, two of them, I understand, have been taken and the third is at present under discussion. We have high hopes of that.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord, I do not know how good he is at looking into the crystal ball but can he possibly say when he expects these routes to become operational?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I think that it is exceedingly dangerous, certainly for myself, although I do not know about the noble Baroness, to look into a crystal ball to see what we might find. If the noble Baroness is concerned about these new routes, I understand that one of the upper air limit routes is at present operational. We hope that there will be a second one over the United Kingdom. I understand that there are three more which it is hoped will become operational. This matter is, I think, covered by the last part of the reply that I gave to the noble Baroness's first question.

Lord Whaddon

My Lords, in considering changes in controlled airspace will the noble Lord bear in mind that the vast majority of United Kingdom registered aircraft are not airliners but are in general aviation? Is he aware that it is a continual nuisance to see the extension of controlled airspace and very much against the interests of general aviation, particularly when the extension is into lower levels? Will he bear in mind the interests of general aviation in such changes and try to avoid the extension of controlled airspace particularly into levels, say, up to 4,000 feet?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his question. It impinges possibly on the whole question of air safety. I cannot comment upon his question today, but I shall note everything that he has had to say most carefully.

Lord Whaddon

My Lords, on the matter of air safety, will the noble Lord bear in mind that the more the Government extend controlled airspace, the more they are likely to have incidental incursions into it by general aviation?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, this is all the more reason why we need further and more sophisticated control of the available airspace.