Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in the light of the recent NATS technical failure, whether backup systems are genuinely independent, or vulnerable to the same underlying failure.

The Secretary of State has asked NATS to provide a report by 16 September setting out the cause of the incident and the actions taken in response. The Government has also asked the CAA to conduct an independent review and will provide an update within 6 months. This will provide an important opportunity to review existing arrangements, ensure lessons are learned, and identify any further measures required to enhance resilience.

The safety of UK airspace remains a crucial priority for UK Government, and we will continue to work closely with NATS, the CAA and industry partners to maintain the highest standards of safety and operational resilience.