§ 17. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the number of fatal accidents on scheduled and non-scheduled air services in the first quarter of 1964 with the comparable figures for 1962 and 1963; and how many British passengers and aircraft were involved in each case.
§ Mr. MartenFigures for world-wide accidents are published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation but these do not yet extend beyond 1961. I will with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant information for British-registered aircraft.
§ Mr. RankinIs it not the case that in the first three months of this year 16 civil aircraft were destroyed with a loss of 360 passengers? Has the hon.. Gentle-man no information about these figures, which have: been published? If they are correct, are they disturbing him as seriously as they disturb all those who are interested in the progress of civil aviation? Is there any committee within the International Civil Aviation Organisation which inquires into these things from the point of view of the control system in airfields outside Great Britain?
§ Mr. MartenIn the International Civil Aviation Organisation there is a group of people compiling these figures, but I would be very reluctant to agree here and now to figures compiled by other sources which I could not necessarily accept as reliable.
§ Mr. CroninIn view of the seriousness of the subject, would it not be more 403 Desirable for the Ministry to have figures much more up-to-date than any which we have heard so far?
§ Mr. MartenIf the hon.. Gentleman reads the Answer which will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will find that the figures give the answer and are very up to date.
§ Mr. RankinAs the figures have been published by a responsible periodical, the current issue of The Aeroplane, would the hon.. Gentleman inquire into their veracity and write to me when he has done so?
§ Mr. MartenYes.
§ The information is as follows:
| NUMBER OF BRITISH REGISTERED AIRCRAFT ENGAGED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT FLIGHTS INVOLVED IN FATAL ACCIDENTS IN THE FIRST QUARTERS OF 1962, 1963 AND 1964 AND NUMBER OF BRITISH PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN EACH ACCIDENT. | |||
| Total Fatal Accidents | British Passengers involved | ||
| Total | Fatalities | ||
| 1st Quarter, 1962 | |||
| Scheduled … | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-Scheduled | 1 | 40 | 40 |
| 1st Quarter, 1963 | |||
| Scheduled … | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-Scheduled | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st Quarter, 1964 | |||
| Scheduled | 1 | 70 | 70 |
| Non-Scheduled | 1 | 4 | 4 |