21. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps are taken by his Department to initiate rescue arrangements in the 933 event of aircraft accidents outside but within a reasonable distance of the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NeaveWhen an air traffic control centre becomes aware of an aircraft seriously overdue or in distress over the sea, it immediately notifies the R.A.F. Rescue Co-ordination Centre in whose area the aircraft is. The responsibility for initiating search and rescue action then rests with this centre.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my hon. Friend aware that when a K.L.M. aircraft crashed into the Atlantic off the Irish coast in the middle of August, there was a delay of something like ten hours between the last message put out by the aircraft and the time that the rescue plane took off? That was not entirely due to the fault at Gander. Can he say whether that matter has been investigated?
§ Mr. NeaveThe false radio report from Gander caused a considerable delay. As soon as the error was recognised, the search and rescue facilities went into action. My hon. Friend will recognise that the area in which the accident occurred is the formal responsibility of the Irish Republic, but we have an agreement with them to provide search and rescue facilities to supplement their limited facilities. My Department is examining the present arrangements, which have been internationally agreed, to ensure that there is no unnecessary delay in initiating rescue operations.