§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade, following the meeting of Ministers of Eurocontrol on 19 November, and the agreement of a new convention for Eurocontrol, what he expects to be the new role for the Maastricht centre, and of other international air traffic control centres set up by Eurocontrol.
§ Mr. SproatThe future role of Maastricht is primarily a matter for the four States directly involved (Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and the Federal Republic of Germany) but a final decision will be taken by the Permanent Commission of Eurocontrol, in which the United Kingdom takes an active part. Two international centres were planned by Eurocontrol in addition to Maastricht: that at Shannon is fully under Irish control and the Federal Republic of Germany is in the process of finalising arrangements to take over Karlsruhe.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade, following the Eurocontrol Ministerial meeting on 19 November, and in view of the United Kingdom's membership of the European civil aviation conference, what steps he is now taking to improve air traffic planning and management schemes, with the aim of reducing fuel consumption; and how this action is being co-ordinated.
§ Mr. SproatThe United Kingdom is a member of the European Civil Aviation Conference working group on aviation fuel supplies which is developing recommendations on fuel conservation. Moreover, Eurocontrol is concerned in the development of a European system of flow management and are carrying out other studies to improve air traffic planning and management that should result in a reduction in fuel consumption. There are adequate international mechanisms for co-ordinating the work of the various bodies concerned. Within the United Kingdom the national air traffic services are continuously reviewing their systems and carrying out research and 5W development with a view to improving air traffic management which would result in airlines' fuel costs being reduced.