Drop air sell-off, urges rebel

Gavin Strang: "Deep unease" over plans

Former cabinet minister Gavin Strang has called for the government to think again over its plans to privatise the national air traffic control system (Nats).

Though the government's comfortable parliamentary majority insulated it from a Commons rebellion by 37 of its backbenchers on Wednesday, Mr Strang said the debate showed "deep unease" at the proposals.

Speaking on Thursday Mr Strang, transport minister in Prime Minister Tony Blair's first cabinet, said: "I believe it is now time they should think again ... and walk away from the privatisation with dignity."

'Very big mistake'

"What would be certainly quite unacceptable would be to carry on with the present policy," he added.

Controllers' unions fear the part-privatisation plans will jeopardise safety

Mr Strang said the government would be making a "very big mistake" if it pressed ahead with the scheme during the current Parliament.

He found it difficult to believe that if the government failed to get it on the statute book this time, the scheme would be included in Labour's general election manifesto.

Wednesday's vote followed a Commons debate during which Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plans to sell-off part of Nats were repeatedly criticised from the Labour benches.

But before the debate even began there was a row over the his absence from the Commons chamber.

Mr Prescott, head of the transport, environment and regions super-ministry, was accused of avoiding the debate by shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin.

He said Mr Prescott had "ducked the debate on the fuel crisis, he ducked the debate on the London Underground PPP [Public-Private Partnership] and now, as I predicted, he is ducking this.

"It is getting beyond a joke."

Safety 'paramount'

Environment Minister Nick Raynsford insisted that safety would be paramount in a partially privatised Nats.

He called on MPs to vote down the Lords amendment.

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

He said: "Were this provision to remain on the face of the bill, we would be straying into very dangerous territory in constitutional terms, and creating a precedent which could be used again and again to damage the good intentions of this government."

But a core of Labour MPs, including Mr Strang and former Heathrow Airport shop steward Martin Salter, were determined to defeat a move which they said did not even feature in the party's 1997 election manifesto.

Mr Raynsford insisted the government's plans were "very different" from what had happened to the railways.

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.

Before the debate, Mr Salter said government whips had been working overtime to neutralise potential troublemakers.

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