Government defiant on air sell-off

Ministers insist safety will not be jeopardised

The government has insisted it is determined to push ahead with plans to privatise the national air traffic control system regardless of a threatened backbench revolt and wide disquiet among Labour MPs.

We need absolutely first-rate management to ensure that the new systems are brought in as effectively as possible

Nick Raynsford

Some Labour MPs have pointed to recent accidents on the rail network as illustrating the dangers of privatisation.

But the minister responsible for air traffic control, Nick Raynsford, insists safety fears are unfounded.

General election

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman has said the government remained "absolutely committed" to the part privatisation.

"There is a huge increase in air traffic and this, we believe, is the best way of getting the necessary investment in.

Martin Salter: Privatisation proposals "ill-thought-out"

"We are talking about getting in £1bn of extra finance over the next decade for what we predict will be a 5% growth in air traffic."

The government's large majority means it should easily overturn an amendment to the Transport Bill by the House of Lords designed to scupper the sell-off by delaying it until after the general election.

But a significant Labour rebellion in Wednesday's vote could encourage peers to reinstate the amendment when it goes back to the upper chamber.

Parliamentary ping-pong

The bill could then "ping-pong" between the two chambers.

With time running out in the current parliamentary session, the government would be faced with the prospect of losing the whole bill unless it drops the sale.

Mr Raynsford insisted the government would have its way.

"We are determined to carry this forward and it is the will of the elected government in the House of Commons which should prevail," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Raynsford said air traffic control's management's was not up to the challenge of introducing new technology.

"We need absolutely first rate management to ensure that the new systems are brought in as effectively as possible," he said.

"Unfortunately, while national air traffic has been extremely good at safety, its record on the introduction of new technology and new arrangements has not been as good."

Whips working overtime

Ahead of the vote Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party that any plans to back the Lords amendment would present a "constitutional threat" to the powers of MPs.

Peers could not be allowed to dictate the legislative timetable of a government, he argued.

That was seen as a bid to head off what would be an embarrassing revolt for the government.

Reading West MP Martin Salter, one of the organisers of the rebellion on Labour's benches and a former Heathrow Airport shop steward, said government whips had been working overtime to neutralise potential troublemakers.

As a result, there were likely to be fewer rebels than the last time MPs voted on the issue in July, when 47 Labour members defied the government.

Mr Salter told BBC News 24: "There will be a substantial number of abstentions, even if the numbers voting against the government goes down."

The MP claims 76% of the public oppose the sell-off of the National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats), making it less popular than fox hunting.

Under the government proposals, 49% of the air-traffic service would remain in public hands with 5% going to employees.

Ministers will also retain a so-called "golden share", meaning a complete sell-off in the future could not go ahead without government approval.

Fellow Labour backbencher and declared rebel Gordon Prentice said there was no "compelling financial reason" for wanting to part-privatise Nats.

He said: "The Nats proposals were not in Labour's manifesto and there is no compelling financial reason why we need to do this."