§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what payments regime applies in respect of airlines using the National Air Traffic Services; what changes to such payments are proposed in advance of the Transport Bill being enacted; and if he will make a statement. [120325]
§ Mr. MullinThe Civil Aviation (Route Charges for Navigation Services) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/1537 and 2999) made under section 73 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 require the operator, and on notice the owner, of any aircraft in the Flight Information Regions of Eurocontrol Member States to pay Eurocontrol a charge for air traffic services.
These are collected by Eurocontrol and a sum in respect of the services provided by the service provider in each Contracting State is paid by Eurocontrol to the Contracting State. Under article 20 of the Multilateral Agreement, National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) has been nominated by the UK as being entitled to receive the United Kingdom's share of the route charges.
By directions made by the Civil Aviation Authority under Article 79 of the Air Navigation Order (No.2) 1995 it is the responsibility of the owners or operators of specified aerodromes to procure appropriate services for the control of air traffic in their vicinity. Usually the owner or operator of the aerodrome would include the costs incurred in acquiring these services in his charges to the owners or operators of aircraft using the airport. In some cases, however, contracts have been negotiated by NATS that specify that they will charge the aircraft owners and operators direct.
The duty on the owners and operators to pay the charges is set out in the Civil Aviation (Navigation Service Charges) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/599).
No changes to the current charging arrangements are proposed in advance of the Transport Bill being enacted.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many people are employed by National Air Traffic Services; and what the basis is of the share allocation under the public private partnership; [120603]
(2) if employees of National Air Traffic Services will be able to sell their shares in the NATS public private partnership without restriction. [120619]
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§ Mr. MullinNATS employs 5,372 people as at 31 March 1999. The final form of the employee share scheme, including the allocation to NATS' staff, and any restrictions on sale will be worked up in due course following consultation with NATS' employee representatives and, when selected, the Strategic Partner.
However, the Government are keen to ensure that the share scheme is designed to ensure that NATS' employees hold a long-term equity stake in their company and that all employees are entitled to participate on an equal basis.