HL Deb 25 October 1988 vol 500 cc1475-6

3.2 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can ensure that the system of air traffic control over the United Kingdom will be adequate for the expected numbers of flights after 1990.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the reorganisation of the London Terminal Control Area by 1995 will be the first major improvement of airspace capacity. In the meantime, the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is implementing a whole series of measures to relieve airspace congestion over the next five years.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his reply but I shall be more grateful if he can tell us more about the measures which he has just announced. Further, is there any difficulty over the availability of the advanced technological equipment required, skilled manpower or the money for both?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the measures include improved communications and computer systems at the National Air Traffic Services. They also include improved communication links between the National Air Traffic Services and airline operators.

The NATS computer is to be rehosted and will be operational in 1990. It will provide extra processing capacity and improved operational efficiency and reliability. So far as I am aware, there are no difficulties as regards manpower or money.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, can the Minister inform the House as to whether the Government have reached any decision about the desire of the British Airports Authority to take over air traffic control at many of our airports? However, if they have not yet reached such a decision, can he say when they expect to do so?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, unfortunately my noble friend Lord Brabazon of Tara is in Washington at present. Therefore I shall have to write to the noble Baroness on that point.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I am sorry, but I am not in Washington. I have asked a question to which I should like an answer—and I venture to think that the House would also. Does the Minister feel that he can ask his noble friend Lord Brabazon to write to me on his return from Washington and give me the answer?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I shall do even better than that; I shall write to the noble Baroness myself before he returns.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, does the noble Viscount appreciate that we welcome the proposals for development as regards air traffic control? Is he also aware that we appreciate the efforts of his noble friend Lord Brabazon in connection with the development of Eurocontrol? Is he further aware—I hope that this is not an unfair question as he is only deputising for his noble friend—that I received this morning from the chairman of the CAA a NATS document which states at Chapter 4 that air capacity cannot be finite, although it will be finite and that therefore there will be times, at peak periods, when demand exceeds capacity?

Can we have an assurance from the Minister, on behalf of his noble friend, that the Government will expedite the work of Eurocontrol and that they will monitor the position in this country most carefully—because the proposals are for a period of 10 years or so, which means up to the year 2000—so that other proposals may be adopted?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I agree that one of the main problems is the amount of traffic at peak periods. My noble friend Lord Brabazon of Tara last Tuesday answered a Question on European air control. Perhaps I may tell the House that the proposal of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State to create a European central flow management unit was endorsed last Thursday at a meeting of transport ministers of states belonging to the European Civil Aviation Conference. That is a big step forward.

Lord Gisborough

My Lords, in view of the fact that air space is in the long term finite, no matter what improvements are made, will Her Majesty's Government accept that there will be a long-term need for alternative travel on internal short-haul aircraft? Further, are the Government giving consideration to the eventual need for such surface transport as monorails and suchlike?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, that is a most interesting suggestion and one which I shall most certainly pass on to my right honourable friend.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, will the noble Viscount impress upon the Minister involved that he should give consideration to a more extensive use of some of the regional airports which have an international capacity—such as, say, Manchester—in order to take some of the load off the two major airports in the South East? Is this not a matter which could be carefully looked at with a view to bringing some alleviation to the present difficult situation?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, since 1979 the Government have approved over £240 million for development of local authority and publicly-owned airports. The Secretary of State has asked the CAA when reviewing traffic distribution to take into account the full extent of the contribution which may be made by airports outside the London area.