Whilst I wouldn't blame TAG for doing away with R & D and other activities that are not directly relevant to day-to-day service provision, it does worry me where the expertise will go (or will it just be lost).
Who will do the R & D and the international representation (all those jollies to ICAO meetings) that NATS have done in the past? Or is it all just a waste of time, effort and money? (It's a genuine question, honest!)