Sandra Osborne will press the minister

Last week they confirmed that the reduction in air travel following the terrorist attacks in America last month had forced a review of the phasing of all investment projects.

Preparatory work is still going on at Prestwick, where it was predicted that the construction project would create 600 jobs.

But once the bulldozers have finished their work the builders will not be moving in to construct a new control centre.

The Department of Transport confirmed last week that the project had been shelved by the consortium.

Critics of the government's partial privatisation of air traffic control insist a new centre is vital - and say they are concerned that finance is being put before safety.

David Jamieson has issued a long-term pledge

Mrs Osborne is due to meet Mr Jamieson on Wednesday to discuss the future of the project.

She will press him for a guarantee that the original plans for Prestwick will go ahead.

Speaking after last week's announcement, Mr Jamieson stressed that the plans had not been shelved indefinitely - and promised that the government was "totally committed" to pursuing the project in the long term.

He told BBC Radio Scotland that safety remained a priority and that there would be no long-term delay in building the centre.

He said the government had "reluctantly" accepted Nats' request to suspend building work temporarily.

"At the very earliest opportunity, we will be looking again at the circumstances as they unfold and making sure this centre does go ahead," he said.