§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have occurred in respect of the time scales set out in his answer of 13 December 1994,Official Report, column 549, for the implementation of the new Scottish air traffic control centre; and if he will list the parties responsible for achieving the objectives. [1325]
§ Mr. NorrisPrimary responsibility for achieving objectives for the implementation of the new Scottish centre will lie with the successful tenderer for the contract. The National Air Traffic Service will, however, be responsible for the safety and operational aspects of the project.
NATS expects the new Scottish centre to become operational in the winter of 2000–2001.
§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new en-route air traffic control centre at Swanwick will become operational; and to what extent this is in accordance with the original time scales for the project. [1217]
§ Mr. NorrisThe CAA presented a case for a new air traffic control centre to the Government in 1987. The target date set for the centre to enter operation was the end of 1996.
The Swanwick centre programme has met all its major milestones to date. It is now in its most testing phase, and some software integration problems have been experienced. This is not unusual in a project of this complexity. Currently, the problems are not expected to affect the plan for the new centre to be on line to meet the traffic demands of the summer of 1997.