HC Deb 10 March 1980 vol 980 cc461-2W
Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made on the cost allocation of Eurocontrol charges; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Tebbit

There is already an established system for the allocation to the Eurocontrol route charges system of costs incurred in providing en route traffic services. If my hon. Friend has some particular point in mind I shall be ready to consider it.

Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals he is preparing for the future of Eurocontrol after 1 April 1983; what timetable is envisaged for consultations amongst member States; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Tebbit

The member States of Eurocontrol have been considering for some time a revision of the 1960 convention to take account of changes which have occurred in the last 20 years. There is general agreement that the organisation should in future reduce its air traffic service tasks, and concentrate more on forward planning, co-ordination of research and development, and technical assistance to member States.

Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why his Department includes the cost of the Sumburgh meteorological station in the United Kingdom bill of en route air navigation services recovered through Eurocontrol from commercial operators who do not and cannot use its facilities; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Tebbit

The cost of meteorological services is allocated to en route navigation services, the greater part to services in United Kingdom airspace, for which charges are levied through the Eurocontrol route charges system, and the rest to the North Atlantic, for which charges are levied directly. The costs incurred in having a meteorological office at Sumburgh are treated exactly like those incurred at any other aerodrome. The charge imposed under section 4 of the Civil Aviation (Eurocontrol) Act 1962 is for services provided, and has to be paid without regard to the extent to which any flight has actually made use of those services. However, aircraft flying to and from Sumburgh do in fact benefit from navigation services, including weather forecasting.