§ 74. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he has taken following the recommendations made by the Commissioner of the public inquiry into the accident to the Viking aircraft G-AJBO.
§ Mr. WatkinsonChanges in the arrangements for pilots' flight tests, which are being worked out, will give effect to the main suggestions made by the Commissioner. His view that alternate "six-monthly" tests should include a night check on engine-inoperative landings is still being studied.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes not the Minister think that it would be advisable or useful if he could make some more detailed comment upon the recommendations put forward by the Commissioner of this inquiry? Very serious proposals were put forward, and some inadequacies were disclosed by the inquiry into this unfortunate accident. Is not the House to be assured that the Minister is taking action upon those recommendations?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have just said that in regard to all the main suggestions made by the Commissioner changes are now being worked out. If the hon. Member would like me to supply him with a detailed list of how those will be applied I shall be only too pleased to let him have it.
§ 76. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why, although a Press notice of the inquiry Report concerning the accident to the Viking aircraft G-AJBO was issued on 5th November, the printed copies of the Report were not available in the Vote Office up to 12th December.
§ Mr. NeavePrinting of these Reports unavoidably takes some time but, in accordance with normal procedure, duplicated copies were placed in the Library of the House as soon as they were available—namely, on 6th November, when the results of the inquiry appeared in the Press.
§ Mr. BeswickI understand that, but that is not the same thing as their being available in the Vote Office, for in that case they are available for taking away. As there was a considerable delay here, will the hon. Member look into the matter and see if it can be obviated in the future?
§ Mr. NeaveI will look into the matter. The practice of providing Reports in advance of printed copies being made available in the Stationery Office has existed since 1952.