HC Deb 07 March 1956 vol 549 cc2098-9
36. Mr. Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of the contract under which York aircraft MW 232, MW 137 and MW 178 were refurbished.

Mr. Birch

Number 6260.

Mr. Allaun

Will the Minister investigate a 2,000-word report which I have here showing that these and other York planes were refurbished at Fairey's at Ringway, Manchester, in 1951; that there were eleven extremely serious and dangerous departures from the scheduled procedure, and that a telegram was sent to the Air Ministry reporting the fact? Have any of these York aircraft since crashed or suffered major mechanical breakdowns?

Mr. Birch

None of the aircraft in this contract, of which there are twenty-four, has been involved in any accident in which fatal casualties were caused. If the hon. Gentleman will send the report to me, I will gladly study it. I hope he will recollect that an aircraft cannot fly after one of these refurbishing contracts without receiving a certificate of airworthiness.