To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on funding research and development of air traffic control systems last year; and how much is planned for the next four years.

Research and development of such systems is carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority, as the United Kingdom body directly concerned with air traffic control matters. In 1990–91 the authority's budgeted expenditure on air traffic services research and development was £9·7 million, and the budget for 1991–92 is £11·0 million. The budget for future years has not been finalised.In addition, the United Kingdom contributes to the expenditure of Eurocontrol, of which it is a member, and which has a substantial programme of research and development of air traffic control systems.