§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority has made a further response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the CAA's provision of navigation and air traffic control services to civil aircraft published in July 1990; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Civil Aviation Authority publishes its second, interim, response today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
The authority's initial response, made in December 1990, said that the authority had accepted all but one of the MMC's 40 recommendations and that work had already begun on implementing many of them. This work has continued, and the authority has made progress in such important areas as consultation with users on charges and airspace planning; introducing improvements to project management; and laying the foundations for more efficient and effective manpower planning.
I shall be keeping in close touch with the chairman of the CAA about the programme of change which the CAA has instituted in response to the MMC's recommendations.