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Air traffic control privatisation bid hits turbulence

By Felicity Ussher

Published: Tuesday 09 May 2000

The UK's National Air Traffic Services' bid to control the digital skies could be scuppered today by backbench MPs.

The Transport Bill, which reaches the report stage today, proposes to partially privatise NATS, in an attempt to raise £1 billion for technology investments.

However, back bench MPs Gavin Strang and Gwyneth Dunwoody are expected to table amendments today which would prevent privatisation, according to the BBC.

Bill Semple, MD of NATS, explained to Silicon last July that partial privatisation would secure the company's future as a supplier of digital air traffic control to the third world.