§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects negotiations on a suitable strategic partner for the National Air Traffic Service to be concluded. [147144]
§ Mr. MullinI refer the hon. Member for Poole to my reply given to the hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Moore) on 9 November 2000,Official Report, column 346W. I stated that subject to passage of the Transport Bill, the Government's firm intention was to have the PPP in place in the spring of 2001. The Transport Bill received Royal Assent in November 2000 and the Government's firm intention remains to have the PPP in place in the spring of 2001.