HC Deb 16 June 1972 vol 838 cc445-6W
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the provision of automated air traffic control services in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

I am glad to be able to tell the House that with the full agreement of the Government, the Civil Aviation Authority has today announced a major step forward towards the automation of air traffic control in the United Kingdom. The authority is announcing details of a series of contracts it will be negotiating. A copy of the Authority's announcement is given at the end of this answer.

I welcome the authority's proposals under which in the shorter term the authority will be placing contracts worth over £20 million with British industry for the provision of a complex of display systems and British computers, including fully labelled synthetic radar displays. The development work for this system will give the British electronics industry extensive opportunities to expand its capability in this important field of technology. I also welcome the authority's proposal to place with British industry within the next 12 months contracts for study of a replacement system capable of handling the heavier and more complex air traffic demands which will arise from about 1985 onwards.

I am sure the whole House will welcome these steps by the authority to provide an environment in which a high standard of safety can be maintained to meet the growth of air traffic.

The following is the announcement: