Shona MclsaacTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will issue directions to the Civil Aviation Authority under section 66 of the Transport Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [156438]
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§ Mr. PrescottFollowing consultation with the Secretary of State for Defence, I have today given directions to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in respect of their conduct of their air navigation functions under Chapter III of Part I of the Transport Act 2000. The directions set out how the CAA is to
organise the Directorate of Airspace Policyconsult and liaise with military and civil providers of air traffic services and with airspace users, andmitigate the environmental impact of air operations, andcharge the CAA, inter alia, with procuring the provision of a Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS) in UK airspace and with ensuring the provision of an aeronautical information service.I have placed copies of the directions in the Library of the House.
The Secretary of State for Defence and I regard airspace policy as a crucial component of the joint and integrated provision of air traffic services, to which the Government attach considerable importance. We intend, therefore, to agree together on:
the appointment of the Director of Airspace Policy, who will be the member of the CAA nominated under section 66(3) of the Act;the content of any future direction to the CAA under section 66(1) or 68(3) of the Act.The member of the CAA with national security responsibility under section 67 of the Act is nominated by the Secretary of State for Defence and appointed by me.