§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Europe for the establishment of an integrated European air traffic control; if he will indicate what obstacles to such an integrated control system exist; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TebbitWhen occasion arises I discuss air traffic control issues with my European opposite numbers. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force and I also participate in the deliberations of Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation.
The arrangements for Eurocontrol embodied in the original convention proved inappropriate because they
Crude Steel Production million tonnes 1977 1978 1979 Nov. 1979–Oct. 1980 British Steel Corporation 17.2 16.7 17.8 9.3 Other Manufacturers 3.2 3.6 3.7 3.2 Total 20.4 20.3 21.5 12.5
434W
United Kingdom Trade in Finished Steel '000 tonnes 1977 1978 1979 Oct. 1979–Sep. 1980 Imports from: EEC countries 2346 2231 2347 3205 Non-EEC countries 1373 1441 1437 1645 Total 3719 3672 3784 4850 Exports to: EEC countries 1161 1281 1481 1171 Non-EEC countries 3105 2953 2918 2947 Total 4206 4234 4399 4118 Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of imports according to whether or not the product could be manufactured in the United Kingdom. took inadequate account of the problems of military aviation, and local environmental interests, and the distinction between upper and lower airspace has become unsuited to present day operating conditions.
I do not think that a fully integrated European system of control could be devised which would successfully overcome these problems.