HC Deb 26 March 1947 vol 435 cc1218-9
17. Mr. William Shepherd

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of casualties per passenger mile which took place on scheduled flights operated by British companies during 1946.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Lindgren)

The number of passenger fatalities on scheduled flights operated by United Kingdom companies during 1946 was 8.2 per 100 million passenger miles. This information was published on 13th March last in a statistical survey of accidents on regular air services, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Mr. Shepherd

Is the Parliamentary Secretary able to say how this compares with the rate in the United States?

Mr. Lindgren

Yes, Sir. For 1946, the rate in the United States was 2.3 per 100 million miles, as against 8.2 for this country. In 1945, the rate for this country was nil, because we were fortunate in having no accidents, while the rate for the United States was in the same region. It would be wrong to draw inferences on safety from the figures.

Lord John Hope

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how these figures compare with the last year before the war?

Mr. Lindgren

The figures are very much better. The figure for 1926–30 was 54.2; for 1931–35, 35.3; for 1936–40, 15.3, and for 1941–45, 9.4.

Mr. Rankin

Will my hon. Friend keep before him the fact that while these statistics are interesting, the main thing is the survival chances of passengers in aeroplanes in the event of accidents?

Colonel Ropner

In view of the fact that these figures will probably obtain considerable publicity, could not the Parliamentary Secretary arrange for the Press to be given figures which are comparable, where the noughts are not confused? The percentages he gave in the last part of his reply are meaningless, unless they refer to the mileage covered.

Mr. Lindgren

The statement issued to the Press on 13th March gave the number of operational flights, stage flights, passenger miles, passengers carried, and the figures have been given fairly good publicity, particularly in the trade Press.