Air Traffic Controllers

HC Deb 04 July 2001 vol 371 cc155-6W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many air traffic controllers are at present in training; how many controllers are needed to initiate the new NERC Centre at Southampton; and when he expects to receive details of training schemes proposed by the new private partners of NATS. [1015]

Mr. Spellar

370 student air traffic controllers are currently undergoing training at NATS College of Air Traffic Control, or at operational units. In addition, around 50 controllers are being trained on the new Swanwick systems at any one time.

365 controllers will be needed to bring NERC into operation next January.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement for the NATS PPP requires the key shareholders to agree a business plan within four months of the start of the PPP. This will include a training strategy.