HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 cc658-9W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there are sufficient air controllers trained and ready to operate the new En Route Centre at Swanwick from the date of opening. [108029]

Mr. Mullin

NATS has carried out detailed planning of its requirements for air traffic controllers and the transitional arrangements for training controllers on the new system. NATS is confident that it will have sufficient appropriately trained and validated controllers to operate the new centre from the date of its opening.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the exact date on which the National Air Traffic Services facility at Swanwick will open. [108024]

Mr. Mullin

NATS continues to work towards the introduction into operational service of the New En-Route Centre in the winter of 2001–02.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the National Air Traffic Services at Swanwick will be fully operational at the time of its opening. [108028]

Mr. Mullin

Yes, the New En-Route Centre will be fully operational at the time of its opening.