§ 2.55 p.m.
§ Lord Clinton-Davis asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they have any plans to privatise the National Air Traffic Services in this Parliament.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)My Lords, no. The Government intend to bring forward legislation to privatise the National Air Traffic Services early in the next Parliament.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisMy Lords, I congratulate the Minister and his colleagues on fighting off the Treasury and on shelving this privatisation proposal twice in the past two years, bearing in mind that the proposal has met with enormous opposition from the industry, from the airlines and from the Transport Select Committee in another place. Meanwhile, can he indicate what plans the Government have for the National Air Traffic Services operation at Prestwick, which covers Scotland and the north of England?
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, the noble Lord is not correct in saying that the proposal has been shelved. 527 I have just said that we intend to bring forward legislation early in the next Parliament. Secondly, his analysis of the level of concern about this proposal is quite wrong. There is considerable support from the industry for releasing NATS from the constraints of the public expenditure round. Thirdly, with regard to the new Scottish centre project at Prestwick, the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority announced in the summer that the authority was reviewing the two-centre strategy. When it has come to its conclusions, a decision will be reached about further work at Prestwick.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisMy Lords, if the Minister believes that deferring the proposal until the next Parliament is not shelving it indefinitely, he does not understand anything.
§ Viscount GoschenMy Lords, the noble Lord has exceeded his normal levels of optimism. I do not think he should count his chickens.