§ Sir Gerard VaughanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of the present arrangements for air traffic control over Europe; what consultations he has had with other EC Governments on the matter; what actions in this connection are planned for the forthcoming United Kingdom presidency of the EC; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinFollowing a United Kingdom initiative, Transport Ministers of the member states of the 721W European civil aviation conference (ECAC) agreed in April 1990 a strategy for the harmonisation and integration of air traffic control systems in Europe. The first phase of this strategy, which has just been completed, consisted of a comprehensive assessment of the present arrangements for air traffic control in Europe. The second and third phases will comprise programme development and acquisition and implementation of new equipment.
My right hon. Friend has consulted a number of his colleagues in the EC on air traffic control matters. On 17 March he will be chairing a meeting in London of Transport Ministers of ECAC member states, which include all EC member states, to consider further measures to reduce flight delays and to cope with growth in air traffic. We expect the meeting to reach agreement on a major extension of the current strategy for air traffic control to the end of the century and beyond.
During the forthcoming United Kingdom presidency of the EC the Government will encourage the Commission to support fully the initiatives that we have initiated in ECAC. The Government will be seeking increased support from the EC for research and trials on air traffic management. The Government will also seek substantial progress on a proposal for a directive relating to mandatory technical and operational standards for the procurement of air traffic control equipment.