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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the millennium compliance of the data processing systems (a) at the London Air Traffic Control Centre and (b) due to be introduced at Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre. [32726] Ms Glenda Jackson: National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has been running a year 2000 project since 1996, and included within the scope of the project is the London Area and Terminal Control Centre and its supporting infrastructure. All in-service operational systems have been checked, and NATS is now in the middle of a comprehensive update programme to correct faults or replace sub-systems which might be affected by the millennium bug. NATS expects to be fully compliant by the end of 1998 and this timescale includes extensive testing at all levels of their systems. Year 2000 compliance for the systems in the new centre at Swanwick is an essential part of NATS' overall programme. In conjunction with NATS' supplier, Lockheed Martin, NATS has conducted a full system assessment. A small number of minor corrections are required to the operational systems and some updates are required to the off-line support systems. All work in this area is included in the plan for readiness by the end of 1998.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

32726; 307 c697-8W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Air traffic control Data processing ICT Millennium compliance Swanwick