ABERFAN DISASTER (TRIBUNAL) (Hansard, 25 October 1966)

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established for inquiring into a definite matter of urgent public importance viz. the causes of, and all the circumstances relating to, the disaster at Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, on Friday the 21st day of October 1966. After the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, the expressions of deep sympathy from all parts of the House and the tributes to the selfless devotion of all who have toiled in Aberfan, to pass this Motion is all that we as a House can presently do.

Our sense of the inadequacy of this action in the face of this bitter tragedy is an expression in a Parliamentary sense of the utter powerlessness that we all felt, those of us who were in Aberfan last Friday evening, in the presence of that massive and cruel elemental force which had destroyed the life of a community.

All that we can do is to set in motion the machinery of an independent and authoritative public inquiry. That the Government were right within a few hours of the tragedy to announce the inquiry, that it would be judicial in character, that it would be public—all this, I believe, has been accepted by the House and the country—and that, through Lord Justice Edmund Davies' acceptance of the Government's invitation to lead the inquiry, we are confident in the conduct of the inquiry. That, too, has been shown by the comments of hon. Members in all parts of the House yesterday.

That the inquiry should start without delay—Lord Justice Edmund Davies is in Merthyr today—is the desire of all of us, and it is equally, I am certain, the general desire of this House that the inquiry be clothed with all the powers that it may need to get at the truth. It was after consultation with the learned Judge that my right hon. Friend and I felt that these powers could be given only by action under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act of 1921.

I should perhaps add this word of explanation. During the past few years 840 many hon. Members—myself among them—have expressed criticism of the Act, and, as the House knows, a Royal Commission was appointed in July, 1965, to examine its working and to make recommendations for any amendments to the Act that might be needed. But doubts about that Act should not prevent us from recognising that whatever changes may or may not be needed, it is that Act—and that Act alone today—which can be invoked for the purposes required.

No inquiry, no action within our power can ever set back the clock to nine a.m. last Friday. Nor can it restore to their grieving parents, and sisters and brothers, the children who lost their lives. A speedy building programme can replace the houses destroyed but it can never recreate the homes that were destroyed. Still less can any action in our power restore to this bereaved community the loss of an entire age-group, practically all the children between 8 and 10.

All we here today can do is to provide part of the means of reaching the truth, for that truth must be known. It is not, I submit, for us to seek today to anticipate those findings by any comment or speculation on our part. We have the fullest confidence in the learned Chairman, and his colleagues—who, I hope, will be named tomorrow—to provide what poor solace can be provided by their findings about the cause of the tragedy, and, perhaps more important now, to make recommendations which might prevent a repetition of that tragedy in another area, perhaps even another land.

§ Mr. Edward Heath (Bexley)

I rise to support the Motion which has been moved by the Prime Minister. We agree with the Government that it was right that an inquiry should be held. We also agree that these powers should be given to Lord Justice Edmund Davies for the purpose of carrying out the inquiry. As the Prime Minister has said, anxieties have been expressed from both sides of the House from time to time about the methods which have been used by tribunals under this Act. I have every confidence that Lord Justice Edmund Davies would perhaps be able to take account of some of those anxieties in the Tribunal over which he will be presiding with distinction, so as to avoid some of what 841 we have felt to be the unfairness and embarrassments which have arisen on previous occasions.

My hon. Friends and I have joined with the Government in the expression of our sympathy towards the families and the friends of those who have been so suddenly and tragically bereaved in this disaster. I can only speak personally, but I find my mind is still numb at the thought of the immensity of personal grief caused by it, and the irreparable blow which this small and closely-knit community has so suddenly suffered. I believe that all we can do is express our sympathy and show our understanding.

The whole House will probably agree that the nation owes a debt of gratitude to all those—whether individual men and women, voluntary organisations, local government, civil defence, or military services—who worked tirelessly throughout those days to try to alleviate a ghastly situation. Tribute has been paid to them already, but I believe that the House would think it appropriate that from this Box I should pay tribute to the Secretary of State for Wales and his colleagues, whether Ministers or officials in the Welsh Office, for the immense efforts they made personally at the scene of the disaster during those days. It is right that the House should recognise the splendid work which both Ministers and officials did on this terrible occasion.