HC Deb 05 February 2001 vol 362 cc382-3W
Mr. McDonnell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if Mr. Douglas Andrew will participate in advising his Department on the choice of the strategic partner for the National Air Traffic Services; [148557]

(2) if he will place the advice provided to his Department on the future of National Air Traffic Services by Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Library; [148549]

(3 what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have held with Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the future of the National Air Traffic Services; [148552]

(4) what assessment he has made of recent statements made in the media by Mr. Douglas Andrew, adviser to his Department, on the sale of air traffic control; [148553]

(5) what references were taken up by his Department prior to the engagement of Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority as an adviser on the future of National Air Traffic Services; [148551]

(6) what role Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority has played in advising the Government on the future of the National Air Traffic Services. [148550]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

Mr. Douglas Andrew is the head of the Economic Regulation Group of the Civil Aviation Authority and he was appointed in that capacity initially by the previous Administration in 1997. He was re-appointed as head of the Economic Regulation Group in 2000.

Mr. Andrew's role in advising the Government on the future of National Air Traffic Services has been limited to matters regarding the economic regulatory and licensing regime for the NATS public/private partnership. In this context, Mr. Andrew has participated in working groups run by my Department at official level. The Economic Regulation Group was also asked to advise the Government on a detailed economic regulatory regime and price cap for NATS PPP. There have been no meetings between Mr. Andrew and Ministers on these matters.

I shall be happy to place copies of the CAA's advice on the charge control for the PPP in the Library of this House. The CAA has already placed the advice on its own website, but I am aware of no other statements made by Mr. Andrew in the media relating to the PPP.

Mr. Andrew will not participate in advising on the choice of the strategic partner for the PPP. He and other senior CAA personnel have had meetings with all three potential strategic partners during the bidding process.

I understand that the previous Administration took proper steps to satisfy itself that Mr. Andrew was the most appropriate person for the post of Director of Economic Regulation. Details of his references are personal and confidential.