§ 53. Mr. Fortescueasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will investigate the desirability of banning the use of certain types of plastic fitting in aircraft on the grounds that they are a safety risk.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsI am advised by the Air Registration Board that its requirements ensure an acceptable level of safety in relation to the use of plastic materials in aircraft: the requirements are constantly being reviewed in the light of experience and research.
§ Mr. FortescueIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the destruction of the B.E.A. Trident aircraft as a result of arson in July last year was greatly hastened by the imflammability of the plastic fittings on board? What action has he taken as a result of that incident?
§ Mr. RobertsI do not think that the course of events was quite as the hon. Gentleman has put it. I would refer him to the fairly extensive statement I made about this in the recent debate on the Consolidated Fund. Both B.E.A. and the British Airports Authority have taken action as a result of that serious incident and have drawn useful lessons from their inquiries.