§ 20. Mr. Jannerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware that at the Manchester inquest on two men killed when their aircraft crashed near Ringway Airport on 27th March the jury recommended that a definite figure for the weight of the cargo, quite apart from the amount of petrol carried, should be 1164 officially established and that in bad weather a decision to fly should never be left to the pilot alone; and whether he proposes to take steps to ensure that one or both of these recommendations are made compulsory.
§ Mr. BeswickMy noble Friend is aware of the jury's recommendations, and, although he proposes to await the recommendations of the Chief Inspector of Accidents before finally deciding, he sees no reason at present for altering the existing practices in these matters.
§ Mr. JannerWill my hon. Friend examine the evidence in this case, because it is quite clear from the conclusions arrived at by the jury and also from the coroner's remarks, that something ought to be done in the direction recommended by the jury?
§ Mr. BeswickThe evidence has of course, been most carefully considered. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss this matter with me afterwards—it is a technical matter—I should be very happy for him to do so.
Air Commodore HarveyIn view of certain Press reports, will the Parliamentary Secretary make it quite clear that this aircraft was not overloaded at the time of the accident?
§ Mr. BeswickThat is so; it was not overloaded.