§ 25. Mr. Monroasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of accidents to private pilots is known to 492 have been due to the effects of alcohol on the pilot in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAlcohol is considered to have played a part in none out of 54 accidents in 1962 to aircraft flown by holders of a private pilot's licence, none out of 52 in 1963, one out of 74 in 1964, one out of 73 in 1965 and one out of 70 in 1966.
§ Mr. MonroSurely those are very small figures. Does the Minister recall his predecessor's saying at the Guildhall in November that many accidents were caused by pilots who had taken alcohol before flying? Was not this a gross exaggeration, and a slur on private pilots?
§ Mr. MallalieuIt is certainly true—thank goodness—that the numbers are small. My right hon. Friend was quite right to try to keep them so.