HC Deb 28 November 1945 vol 416 cc1326-7
82. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in future, he will allow details of all aircraft accidents involving fatalities to be made public immediately after the relatives have been informed.

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir. Press communiqués on accidents were not usually issued during the war. We have now arranged to issue communiqués again for all accidents involving fatalities which occur to aircraft on passenger-carrying flights. The communiqués will normally be issued as soon as the next-of-kin have been informed, but if necessary, a preliminary notification omitting names will also be issued.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Will the hon. Gentleman state why information relating to transport aircraft only, and not ordinary Service aircraft, can be given?

Mr. Strachey

That is returning to the prewar practice. It was carefully considered, and it was found undesirable to make a public announcement every time there was an accident of any kind to ordinary Service aircraft.

Air-Commodore Harvey

May we be given a quarterly statement, otherwise we shall not know whether the Air Force operate with few accidents or a great many? We should like some information on this subject.

Mr. Strachey

I will consider that.

Sir W. Wakefield

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the great public anxiety at the continuing number of accidents in Transport Command, and will he cause to be published the very fullest information about the causes and reasons of these accidents?

Mr. Strachey

We are going forward extremely strongly on the subject of accidents, not only in Transport Command, but in the trooping programme and the transport tasks of the R.A.F., and very active measures for limiting the rate of accidents are under consideration at the moment.

Mr. Bowles

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Government intend to have a public inquiry, not by the Air Ministry into the Air Ministry's own accidents?

Mr. Strachey

I do not think a public inquiry is called for at all. We are undertaking an enormous task in this matter, and we have by no means the best equipment to do it with; but we are at the moment, under great pressure, undertaking inquiries as to how to reduce the accident rate.

84. Mr. Gooch

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the Secretary of State for Air refused to receive a deputation from the National Union of Agricultural Workers to discuss with him matters arising from the beheading of a woman land worker, due to the low flying of a R.A.F. aeroplane.

Mr. Strachey

As the proposed deputation wished to discuss a question arising out of the inability of the Ministry of Pensions to make an award under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, my Noble Friend suggested that any representations the deputation wish to make could more appropriately be discussed with that Department. I understand that action in this distressing case is under consideration by the Ministry of Pensions.