§ 2. Mrs. Ayrton Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Air if compensation will be paid for property damaged and personal injuries caused by the R.A.F. Anson aircraft crash at Hendon on 9th February.
§ Mr. A. HendersonYes, Sir.
§ 3. Mrs. Ayrton Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the Anson aircraft crash at Hendon on 9th February has been proved to have been caused partly by an error in judgment on the part of the pilot, but primarily by faulty traffic control; whether, as the airfield is used as a training ground for pilots, he will give an assurance that further mistakes will not occur causing disasters in the built-up area 943 adjacent to the airfield; and, in view of these dangers, if he will reconsider releasing the airfield for housing.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe system of air traffic control in use at Hendon is the same as at other Royal Air Force stations, and so far as faulty air traffic control was the cause of the accident on the 9th February it was due to a mistake on the part of an individual officer. An examination is being made to see whether further supervision or other similar measures are required. There is no reason to suppose that the continued use of the airfield is an undue risk either to R.A.F. pilots or to civilians in the Hendon district. In present circumstances, therefore, I regret that it is not possible for the R.A.F. to relinquish this airfield.
§ Mrs. Ayrton GouldIs my right hon. Friend aware that on three sides of the airfield there are small houses, the gardens of which run down to the fences, and, therefore, if anything goes wrong there is likely to he a serious accident at that particular airfield?
§ Mr. HendersonNo, Sir. I do not think that the cause of the accident in question was aggravated by the existence of the houses around the airfield.