§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade if his Department has studied the workings of centralised air traffic control in the United States of America; if he will consider the feasibility of such a scheme for the whole of Europe, including Turkey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EyreThe United Kingdom, as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and of Eurocontrol, is taking part in studies by those organisations of improvements in the European air traffic system, including that in Turkey. Experience from the United States of America—which are much larger in area, have generally lower traffic density and quite different weather conditions—is taken into account. The member States of Eurocontrol, in preparation for the renewal of the Eurocontrol convention, examined thoroughly the possibility of unifying national air traffic systems in Europe under one executive authority. They concluded that apart from the considerable technical, financial and political difficulties involved, such an authority would not necessarily be more effective than the increased co-ordination of national air traffic systems which Eurocontrol expects to achieve in future.