HC Deb 17 March 1948 vol 448 cc2091-3
60. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when the Air Accidents Committee completed its inquiry into the methods of investigating accidents; and what action he proposes to take.

61. Mr. Beswick

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether, following the report of the Air Accidents Investigation Committee any changes have been made in the procedure of inquiry into air accidents.

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

The Committee on Accident Investigation Procedure is a sub-Committee of the National Civil Aviation Consultative Council. That Council at its last meeting took no decisions on the Report, which is now receiving departmental consideration. My noble Friend will, of course, give careful attention to the views of the Council, which is to consider the Report further at its next meeting.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Does that mean that the Parliamentary Secretary will undertake that his noble Friend, whatever he thinks about it, will make the Report public?

Mr. Lindgren

This is the Report of a sub-committee, and it would be wrong to give any undertaking without consultation and agreement with the main Committee, to which the sub-committee are responsible.

Mr. Beswick

Would it not be much more satisfactory to publish this Report in proper form than to leave it to a report in "The Times" newspaper? Now that that report has been published in that paper is he going to implement at least one of the two proposals?

Mr. Lindgren

No, Sir, I cannot agree that the Report has been published. An intelligent anticipation of a section or one part of it may have been published. This is a report of a sub-committee to a consultative council. The decision in regard to these matters is taken by the Minister and he must take full responsibility.

Mr. Cooper

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is a great deal of disquiet on this matter, particularly in civil aviation circles? Is it not right and proper to expect that his noble Friend would have the Report published?

Mr. Lindgren

I am afraid I cannot give any undertaking.

Sir W. Wakefield

Cannot the Minister instruct the sub-committee to publish the Report if he is responsible?

Mr. Lindgren

If a group of persons is asked into consultation for advice, it is hardly etiquette to instruct them.

Mr. Beswick

Were the Members on the committee told that they were sitting on a committee which would report to the Minister or that they were simply a subcommittee which would produce a report which would not be published?

Mr. Lindgren

I could not answer that question without notice.

Air-Commodore Harvey

is it not the usual practice when a Minister makes an announcement that a committee will be set up that the finding of that committee should be made public.

Mr. Lindgren

No, Sir.

Mr. Rankin

Will my hon. Friend impress on his noble Friend that it is the feeling of this House that when the Committee has considered this Report it should be made available to hon. Members?

Mr. Lindgren

I will certainly call my noble Friend's attention to these questions.

Air-Commodore Harvey

In view of the high-handedness of the Minister of Civil Aviation, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.