HC Deb 13 May 1959 vol 605 cc1235-7
41. Mr. Remnant

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how the independent reviewing body into Captain Thain's case will be constituted; what will be its terms of reference; and who will be members of it.

Mr. Watkinson

I have in mind that the reviewing body should consist of a Queen's Counsel; one person with appropriate scientific qualifications and a third person with flying experience. Their task will be to consider the representations made by Captain Thain, and their precise terms of reference are now under consideration. Before finalising the arrangements for this independent review, I am waiting to know what action the German authorities propose to take on the further evidence by Captain Thain which has been submitted to them.

Mr. Remnant

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the inquiry will be held in public, or that at least a report will be published at the end of it? Will he also say that, pending the result of the report of the inquiry, his letter of 12th March, threatening to suspend the licence on renewal, can be considered as withdrawn?

Mr. Watkinson

The present position is that I do not propose to take any further action until we see whether the German authorities will agree to review this case. Obviously, if they should care to make any moves then it would be very much in Captain Thain's interest that no further action should be taken by my Ministry until we know whether or not the Germans are willing to change their views. As to the question of what we should do if we hold an inquiry, I will certainly study carefully what my hon. Friend has said. As to the letter to Captain Thain, that was not a threat to withdraw his licence. It was, I think, a very necessary warning so that he could take the action which he is now taking, that he should raise any matters in his defence if he thought there were any, so that my Ministry might consider them.

Mr. Beswick

I am sure that those in the House who have followed this case will be satisfied with the course of action which the Minister now proposes to take. In view of the fact that this is the first inquiry his Department has made into the accident, does he not think that the letter which he sent to this pilot was premature and that it has prejudiced the pilot's career? What justification was there for sending that letter to him and to his employers prior to an inquiry being made by his Department?

Mr. Watkinson

The answer to the first part of the question is that I do not think it has prejudiced Captain Thain's career. As the hon. Gentleman knows, his employers, British European Airways have taken no action in this matter. Secondly, I thought it right and in his interests that he should have had the earliest possible warning that my Ministry might well consider the question of his licence. I think that has been in his interests, because it has enabled him to raise these other matters on which it is at least possible that the German inquiry will be re-opened.