§ Mr. HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will order an independent efficiency scrutiny of the Civil Aviation Authority to be carried out; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 6 December 1989]: A reference under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980 has today been sent to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate the efficiency of the Civil Aviation Authority and the effectiveness of its provision of navigation and air traffic control services with particular emphasis on the effectiveness of its management and planning systems in respect of its major new investment programme. A copy of the reference has been placed in the Library.
The success of the Government's privatisation programme means that there are fewer statutory bodies open to scrutiny under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980. In future, therefore, the practice of announcing annually a programme of references will be discontinued and instead each reference will be announced as it is made.