49 and 50. Marquess of CLYDESDALEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he will take steps to ensure that a public inquiry should immediately be held on every commercial air accident, as is the case in rail and steamship accidents;
(2) if he will in future, after investigation by competent authorities, publish the cause, or probable cause, of all fatal air accidents to British machines; and, if the investigation is necessarily prolonged, will the Air Ministry give the public a definite assurance that such an investigation is being held and that a full report will be published at the earliest opportunity?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe whole subject of the investigation of aircraft accidents is being carefully considered by the Air Council and I am therefore not in a position at present to make any statement of policy on the points raised in the Noble Lord's questions. As regards the second question, however, if the Noble Lord has in mind the Meopham accident, I would point out that the Air Ministry notified the Press in September last during the Recess that an investigation was in progress by an authoritative expert body and that the report of that body, when received, would be made public. An interim report was, of course, issued by the Aeronautical Research Committee in November.
Captain BALFOURIn view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman has said that his Noble Friend is considering this question, when will he be able to give an answer?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI am not able to say when the question can be answered, but no time will be lost in considering the question.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI should imagine that, if the Air Ministry decide on a certain policy, it will automatically be put into practice at once.