"Starting from November 23rd 2006, all aircraft receiving a flight information
service from “London Information” will be asked to select the transponder
code 7401."
That's a great idea, WR.
But why can't London Info have a screen in front of them? (unofficially)
They manage this in France on their FIS. No radar service as such is provided, but you can be flying along VFR at FL095, through various bits of Class D, and the way they work it is they communicate with you if it's going to be a problem, i.e. if there is conflicting traffic. Seems common sense to me. On a handover, they just say "radar contact" and you get another 20 minutes of silence. They can see where you are, which drastically cuts down the radio traffic.
You can be pedantic and say "request transit of such and such Class D" and the response is something very brief like "proceed".
Could it be to do with ATCO salaries going up if they are radar qualified?