§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Airline Group about the(a) technical issues at and (b) the financing of NATS. [60298]
§ Mr. JamiesonNATS' financial position is regularly discussed by all parties concerned—NATS, the Airline Group, the Government as the other main shareholder, the Civil Aviation Authority as regulator and the banks. All are making a contribution to ensuring that NATS has a robust financial structure for the foreseeable future.
Technical issues are operational matters for NATS.
759W
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for future air traffic volumes if NATS delivers its investment plan; [60296]
(2) if he will make a statement on the impact on NATS' ability to take advantage of the commercial freedoms offered by the European Union's Single European Sky Policy of a lack of an investment plan. [60295]
§ Mr. JamiesonNATS recently announced a £1 billion investment plan, detailing its strategic and operational direction for the next decade. This positions the company for the fundamental changes that are expected to take place in European air traffic management over the next 10 to 15 years and gives it the headroom needed to handle safely a further 1 million flights a year by 2011.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of negotiations to increase investment by other parties in NATS; and what commitments the Government have made in connection with its intention to invest further sums of money in NATS. [60294]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe competition for a new investor in NATS is being run by the company's chairman on commercially confidential terms.
As a responsible shareholder in NATS, the Government have said that they would be prepared to match appropriate third party investment.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reports the HSE has issued in connection with the NATS in(a) 2002, (b) 2001, (c) 2000 and v(d) 1999. [60300]
§ Mr. JamiesonHSE has sent only one report to NATS since the beginning of 1999. That was the one by its expert on display screen equipment on the risks to the health of those operating the air traffic control system at Swanwick following a visit in January 2002.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in(a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002 the HSE has been notified of problems at NATS. [60306]
§ Mr. JamiesonNATS is a large organisation operating at many locations throughout the country. Since the beginning of 1999 NATS has notified HSE of 16 reportable accidents nationally. A yearly breakdown follows. In order to protect complainants and because not all may be justified, HSE does not disclose the number of complaints it receives concerning individual employers.
Accidents 1999 5 2000 6 2001 5 2002 0
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the reports by the Health and Safety Executive on IT systems in operation at Swanwick and West Drayton. [60304]
§ Mr. JamiesonHSE has already sent a copy of its report on the operation of IT systems at Swanwick to the employer, NATS, and to the representatives of the760W relevant employees in accordance with its duty to keep them informed about matters affecting their health and safety. HSE will endeavour to release the report more widely. However there are statutory restrictions on the disclosure of information obtained by HSE in pursuance of its powers and at present they still apply to this report.
I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I am able to give him any further information on this issue.
There is no corresponding report on the operation of the display screen equipment at West Drayton air traffic control centre.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the effects of the IT patterns at the Swanwick air traffic control centre on air traffic volumes; [60299]
(2) what discussions he has had with National Air Traffic Services concerning IT problems at Swanwick and West Drayton; [60302]
(3) what assessment he has made of the likely reliability of IT systems at Swanwick and West Drayton over the summer; [60303]
(4) what assurances he has received from the Airline Group about the reliability of NATS IT systems; [60305]
(5) what steps the Government have taken to assess the reliability of the air traffic control systems at Swanwick. [60301]
§ Mr. JamiesonResponsibility for the air traffic control systems at Swanwick and West Drayton rests with NATS. NATS has successfully implemented solutions for the recent problems at these centres and have given assurances that they are doing everything they can to ensure that their systems are resilient. Safety was not compromised in any way.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Swanwick will assume responsibility for all air traffic services from the centres at Manchester and West Drayton; and what conditions will need to be met before this takes place. [60297]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis is a matter for NATS. I understand that subject to detail planning, the Manchester and West Drayton air traffic services will be moved to Swanwick by 2008.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with and representations he has received from(a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Health and Safety Commission, (c) the Civil Aviation Authority, (d) National Air Traffic Services and (e) other organisations relating to health and safety issues associated with the operation of air traffic control centre at Swanwick; and if he will make a statement. [60401]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo such discussions or representations have taken place.
§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what impact the financial position of National Air Traffic Services is having on the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick. [59178]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
761WI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan) on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 862–63W.