§ 4. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give definite instructions to Royal Air Force training planes that they are not to carry out exercises on routes likely to be traversed at the same time by civil aircraft.
§ 5. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to ensure that flight plans are submitted by Royal Air Force aircraft including training aircraft when they are likely to approach, or cross, the predetermined lanes of flight of any civil aircraft.
§ Mr. de FreitasIt would be quite impracticable to require Royal Air Force 1161 aircraft to avoid civil air routes in this country or even to require that flight plans should be submitted in all cases where they are likely to approach or cross these routes. There are over 1,000 Royal Air Force air movements a day, and there are few parts of the country which are not at times crossed by civil aircraft. However, neither the Air Ministry nor the Ministry of Civil Aviation is altogether satisfied with the present air traffic control and we are trying to improve the arrangements to meet the requirements of both military and civil aircraft.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Minister aware that there is a great deal of public disquiet about the recent accident in which 14 people en route to Glasgow lost their lives, and pending inquiry will he give some instruction to the R.A.F. to avoid this route?
§ Mr. de FreitasNo, Sir. The fact that there was a collision in good visibility proves that at least one crew were not keeping a good look-out, but it does nothing to apportion blame.