§ 38. Mr. Teelingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the report on the Brookside accident at Shoreham airport is available for publication.
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir.
§ Mr. TeelingCan the hon. Gentleman say why it is not? Does he remember that he told me that all interested parties could receive it and would see it? Does that mean that they cannot publish it once they have seen it?
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir. It is available to interested parties, but publication means its printing and its general sale to the public. There are two groups of accident reports. One is made available 420 to interested parties and the other, where there are lessons to be learnt from the point of view of flying practice or for other reasons, is printed and made available to the public.
§ Mr. TeelingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many people feel that there is unnecessary secrecy over this? If he means that it is available to interested parties, does that mean that interested people can publish it in the Press if they want to do so?
§ Mr. LindgrenThat is up to them. The interested parties are defined by the Treasury Solicitor. They are the operator, the crew, anyone who suffered damage or anyone who is considered blameworthy.
§ Mr. TeelingWould they be allowed to publish it?
§ Mr. LindgrenI cannot say. I do not know.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAre reports of this category made available to the Press?
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir.