Air Traffic Control (Hansard, 3 December 1991)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, work on the initial phase of an action programme to increase capacity in Europe by integrating the air traffic control systems and optimising the air traffic route network of 23 European countries was successfully completed in October. Progress will be reviewed by ECAC transport Ministers at their next meeting on 17th March 1992 in London.

§ Lord Taylor of Blackburn
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, but will he say what progress has been made in rationalising the many and varied schemes in operation throughout Europe?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, will be pleased to know that the reason I am answering this Question today is that my noble friend Lord Brabazon of Tara is in Brussels at the meeting of the permanent commission of Eurocontrol which is reviewing progress on the European air traffic control harmonisation and integration programme following completion of the first phase of the programme. I am sure that he is enjoying a good Brussels lunch after a successful meeting.
To answer the noble Lord's specific question, I have a list of plans for longer term improvements. I believe that it would be best if I read out some of them and then sent the rest to the noble Lord. In the United Kingdom, NATS is implementing its largest ever investment programme—some £100 million annually—and has increased annual recruitment of controllers from 80 in 1988 to 240 in 1991 and subsequent years. Following a UK proposal, European transport Ministers agreed in April 1990 to an action programme called the European ATC harmonisation and integration programme. Work on Phase 1, a comprehensive evaluation of Europe's ATC systems, has been successfully completed. As I said, European transport Ministers will meet in London next March to review progress.

§ Lord Clinton-Davis
My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware—I speak from some experience of meetings at Eurocontrol—that the lunch is usually more productive than the meeting itself? Nonetheless, do the Government share the widespread view that Eurocontrol has the potential to provide a single arm for air traffic control? Does the Minister agree that it is now time—the matter is urgent—for Eurocontrol to 94 be vested with greater powers so that we avoid the absurd duplication, based on arguments of sovereignty, which afflicts passengers, flyers and airlines throughout Europe?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I agree to the extent that integration could be achieved more quickly and would dovetail with the urgent, short-term tasks of increasing capacity and of improving co-operation and co-ordination on a practical level. That is impractical in the immediate future, but we do not rule it out in the longer term.

§ Lord Harmar-Nicholls
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is easier to talk about rationalisation than it is to bring it about? Is he aware that I served for a number of years on the EC transport committee where this matter was discussed again and again and that self-interest of the various participants was very real and deep-seated?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend is right.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that probably the most important aspect of all forms of rationalisation is the rationalisation of security to prevent aircraft being damaged or blown up and people being slain? Does he agree that that should be the top priority throughout Europe?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am sure that I agree with the noble Lord. However, this is not a Question about security. It is a Question about rationalising air traffic control systems.

§ Lord Whaddon
My Lords, will the noble Viscount bear in mind that the vast majority of aircraft on the British register are not airliners but machines of general aviation? Will he ensure that in any rationalisation of air traffic control systems the bodies representing general aviation are adequately consulted?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I shall draw that point to my noble friend's attention.