HC Deb 21 June 1994 vol 245 cc137-8W
Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific steps he will take to ensure that in the event of the privatisation of the National Air Traffic Services—NATS—any non-air traffic control regulatory powers remaining with the Civil Aviation Authority do not present a conflict of interest between the CAA's need to reduce costs to itself through contracted-in air traffic services from NATS, and its continuing regulatory responsibilities regarding equipment, procedures and airspace design.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 20 June 1994]: The detailed regulatory arrangements for NATS, in the event of privatisation, are currently under consideration. The privatised body would be subject to both safety and economic regulation and we will endeavour to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the two. The prime purpose of air traffic control is to ensure the safe and expeditious movement of aircraft—this will not change in the event of privatisation.

Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to separate air traffic control service provision and regulation by giving consideration to the desirability of transferring the Civil Aviation Authority's air traffic services regulatory function, at present within the remit of the safety regulation group's air traffic services standards department, to the Department of Transport or the Health and Safety Executive or to another independent organisation.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 20 June 1994]: Our proposal to privatise the national air traffic services is intended, inter alia, to separate air traffic control service provision from the Civil Aviation Authority's regulatory functions. We have no plans to transfer the safety regulation of air traffic services from the Civil Aviation Authority to any other body.

Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the maximum number of shares to be held by any single organisation or airline in a privatised National Air Traffic Services.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 20 June 1994]: I shall be considering this issue in the light of the public consultation currently taking place.

Mr. David Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken in preparing his consultation paper on the privatisation of the National Air Traffic Services of any international experience in the privatisation of air traffic control; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris

[holding answer 20 June 1994]: As far as I am aware, there are no fully privatised air traffic control systems in the usual sense of the word. But over the past few years, greater commercialisation has been the trend throughout the world, and ATC provision has been removed from the machinery of Government and established in some form of corporate body, for example in Portugal, Germany and New Zealand. The decision to go to consultation on the proposal to privatise the National Air Traffic Services was taken in the light of this knowledge, and the proposal itself is a logical extension of the trend towards commercialisation.

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