HC Deb 24 February 1953 vol 511 cc1890-1
19. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider his decision to operate York aircraft on North Atlantic trooping contracts until the completion of the inquiry which is pending into the recent loss of one machine.

25. Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to receive a report on the inquiry into the loss of the York aircraft carrying soldiers and Army families from this country to Jamaica.

Mr. Head

I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation who expects the results of the preliminary investigation of the Chief Inspector of Accidents within about a week. Meanwhile, no flights are scheduled to take place.

Mr. Beswick

Whilst reserving detailed questions on previous answers until the debate on the Army Estimates, when I hope to go into more detail, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that his present answer, which I gather means that no more flights will take place until a fuller inquiry is made into this loss, displays more wisdom than the replies he made on 5th February?

Mr. Head

There is no change from my answer on that occasion when, as the hon. Member will see if he refers to HANSARD, I said that no flights would take place subject to this inquiry and that nobody would be placed in danger.

Mr. Mikardo

When the right hon. Gentleman receives the report, will he bear in mind that an operator of this service was advised by the largest operator on the route that these aircraft were not fit for this service in winter? Will he also bear in mind that B.O.A.C. had plenty of pressurised aircraft available which could have done the job in safety? Was it purely doctrinaire considerations which led him to provide a profit for private enterprise even at the cost of greater safeguards?

Mr. Head

I am not personally qualified to speak about the suitability of aircraft and there is an inquiry going on. but I would point out to the hon. Member that prior to this unfortunate and tragic accident Yorks had made 112 flights across the Atlantic without any incidents at all.

Mr. Mikardo

Not in winter.

Air Commodore Harvey

Is my right hon. Friend aware that three or four years ago the South American Airways Corporation were flying these aircraft across the Atlantic at a much higher all-up weight?

Mr. Beswick

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that South American Airways Corporation made a special point—and Air Vice-Marshal Bennett made it quite clear some years ago—of never operating these aircraft at any time over the North Atlantic in winter?