§ Lord Rotherwickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether new regulations dealing with civil aviation in the United Kingdom will no longer come before the British Parliament when the European Safety Agency is operating fully. [HL4332]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe draft EC regulation setting up the European Aviation Safety Agency provides the framework for a new European regulatory system and has been subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny procedures. It sets out basic principles and essential safety requirements with regards to aircraft and product certification. Further EC regulations, also subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny, will be required to extend the scope of the system, including essential safety requirements, to other areas of civil aviation, initially for operators and personnel.
Member states will continue to play a major role in the new system. Many of the European safety standards will be implemented by existing national aviation authorities. The Civil Aviation Authority will continue to issue a range of certificates and approvals under UK regulations which will be subject to normal parliamentary processes.