Crazy Voyager: That's the way I've understood it too, that for the London airports the bid is only for the aerodrome service and not approach.
Not strictly the case: any airport can contract its aerodrome & approach services from any ansp, it's just less likely that the London airports would take theirs out of TC - but they could, if they so wanted to.
Not Long Now: Perhaps someone should tell the TC staff that they are no longer NERL and needn't worry about VR then...?
Surely no-one needs to
worry about VR? It's voluntary, if they don't want, surely don't volunteer. CR would be a different matter, but VR could well be an opportunity for some.