§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the safety of air travellers of the delay to the opening of the new en-route air traffic control centre at Swanwick; and if he will make a statement; [44919]
524W(2) if he will make a statement on the severe overload which occurred on the Blackton Sector of the Area Control Operations Room at the London area and terminal control centre, Air Traffic Control, West Drayton, on Thursday 23 April. [44920]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my noble Friend the Minister for Roads in another place on 4 February 1998,Official Report, House of Lords, column118.
The Civil Aviation Authority is not aware of any incidents on 23 April but is aware of the overload that occurred on the Clacton Sector of the London Area and Terminal Control Centre on 28 April 1998.
An independent investigation by the Air Traffic Services Investigation Section of the Authority's Safety Regulation Group into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is continuing. An interim report addressing the causes and making recommendations aimed at avoiding a recurrence is now being considered by the Chairman of the Authority. The final results will be published to the Industry in due course.
In addition, National Air Traffic Services Ltd. are carrying out their own internal investigation.