Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 19 September (HL Deb col 1332), why there are NATS staff shortages at Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol airports; and whether those shortages are similar to those at Gatwick cited by the Minister in her answer.

UK aviation operates in the private sector, and Air Traffic Control tower services are a commercial matter for the individual airports. In this case, it will be for Manchester and Bristol airports to engage with NATS to ensure appropriate resourcing.

In regard to Edinburgh, NATS is not the provider responsible for the operation of the Air Traffic Control tower at the airport.