HC Deb 03 July 2000 vol 353 cc90-1W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the flight data software that failed at West Drayton on Saturday 17 June is no longer in use; and if he will make a statement. [128376]

Mr. Hill

The software version that was withdrawn on 17 June was subjected to analysis and the fault identified. A suitable software remedy was devised and, following thorough testing, the version was restored to the Flight Data Processing System during the quiet hours overnight on 26 to 27 June.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the software failure at West Drayton air traffic control centre on 26 June. [128372]

Mr. Hill

The software failure that occurred at 14.49 hours GMT at the London Area and Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton on 26 June was caused by a flight plan that could not be processed. The system was out of service for only three minutes. NATS has identified the software fault and is in the process of identifying and testing a suitable software remedy. This fault is totally unrelated to the failure on 17 June which was caused by a latent design fault in the flight strip printing system.