§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Michael Stewart)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to make a statement on the security of aircraft.
Immediately after the disaster on the 21st February, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman expressed deep regret at the disaster. I should like to repeat this here and to express the sincere sympathy of Her Majesty's Government with the Swiss Government and with the relatives of the victims of the tragedy. On 23rd February, our Ambassador in Israel conveyed to Mrs. Meir our very deep regret.
The cause of this disaster has still not been established with certainty. Her Majesty's Government do, however, strongly condemn the increasing violence directed against civil aircraft in recent years. There is widespread and justifiable concern, and we must hope that all nations will now resolve to find a solution to this problem.
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has already informed the House on 25th February of the action we are taking domestically and internationally. We shall be sending representatives to the meeting in Paris tomorrow of European civil aviation administrations which will discuss with other European Governments and with the airlines what further practical steps should be taken to minimise the risk of any further loss of life.
This is, however, only a first step, because the problem is worldwide. We have welcomed and fully support the initiative taken by the Swiss Government for the convening of a special conference under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation to discuss aviation security. I.C.A.O. is the appropriate Specialised Agency of the United Nations, and we regard it as the proper forum for the groundwork on this subject.
We are taking a leading part in the proceedings of I.C.A.O., which has already produced the Tokyo convention on offences committed on board aircraft. Our ratification of this convention was among the 12 which brought it into force 33 last December, and we hope that other ratifications will follow.
In addition, the Legal Committee of I.C.A.O. is studying a draft convention designed to provide an effective framework for bringing those who unlawfully seize control of aircraft to justice. We took part in a meeting of 13 Governments, whose countries are leading providers of air services, held in Washington in December. This followed a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, for which we voted, which urged full support for the speedy preparation and implementation of the convention.
We shall continue to play a full and active part in I.C.A.O. and in the United Nations to ensure the safety of those who travel by air.
§ Mr. MaudlingWe are grateful to the Foreign Secretary for that statement. But is he quite certain that it is wise to lump together the hijacking of aircraft and the placing of bombs on aircraft? These are two different things. The hijacker, presumably, although he may be careless of other people's lives, does not want to destroy the aircraft and in many cases may be a political refugee. I gather that the problem in connection with the hijacker is to establish the legal situation, which is a difficult matter.
Is it not true that those who place bombs aboard aircraft are part and parcel of the general international campaign of terrorism, which in any language is attempted or actual murder? Should not this second stage be dealt with far more urgently than can be done through I.C.A.O.?
§ Mr. StewartI accept that these are two different problems, although both the placing of bombs on aircraft and the attempt to hijack aircraft may place entirely innocent persons at very grave risk. The two situations have that much in common. I believe that I.C.A.O. and, perhaps, subsequently the United Nations are the proper channels through which to deal with both these problems. I agree, however, that they are two separate problems and that the placing of bombs aboard aircraft is the more urgent.
§ Sir R. RussellCan the Foreign Secretary say when the Legal Committee of I.C.A.O. will complete its consideration of the hijacking convention and when it will be published?
§ Mr. StewartI am sorry that I cannot give a definite answer, but I hope as soon as possible.
§ Mr. John MendelsonIn the discussions between the 13 Governments who are the main providers of air services, and in the United Nations, will my right hon. Friend insist that action must be taken against those Governments who allow on their soil these terrorist groups to prepare their murderous assaults, and that joint action must be taken against them immediately and not a long time after such an incident occurs?
§ Mr. StewartI agree that it is right to take action against Governments who behave in that manner. What we have to decide—and it is not easy—is what effective action can be taken. That is the purpose of the international discussions.
§ Mr. DoughtyWill the Foreign Secretary see that the quickest possible steps are taken to provide security at airports and that, if necessary, legislation is passed here even allowing passengers who may be under suspicion to be searched before boarding aircraft?
§ Mr. StewartThat is, perhaps, a matter more for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Sir Dingle FootIs it not a fact that the placing of bombs on aircraft has been strongly and publicly condemned in Cairo by the Government of the United Arab Republic?
§ Mr. StewartYes, Sir. That is so.
§ Mr. LubbockWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is not Governments of these countries who may be responsible? If it proves that the perpetrators of outrages such as the Swissair disaster are citizens of a certain country which refuses to take firm measures against the organisations which employ the perpetrators of these outrages, will the right hon. Gentleman introduce a motion in I.C.A.O. calling for a complete boycott of air services to those countries? Furthermore, can be explain why it is taking so long for the resolution of the Swiss Government to be considered by I.C.A.O.?
§ Mr. StewartI do not think that there has been unnecessary delay about this. To get effective measures would be a very 35 difficult and complicated matter, although I hope that it will not be delayed unduly for that reason.
In reply to the earlier part of the hon. Member's question, I would mention, as I did in my statement, that the cause of the Swissair disaster has not yet been established with certainty. I would not want to go into too many hypothetical speculations at this stage.
§ Mr. ShinwellMy right hon. Friend will appreciate that the civilian air pilots are very much concerned in this matter. Can he say whether, at the meeting which, I understand, is to be held in Paris tomorrow, the international pilots' association will be represented?
§ Mr. StewartI think so, but I cannot be certain. It is a discussion between both Governments and airlines.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonHave the Government yet done anything at all to try to secure the arrest of Francis Bodenan, who was responsible for the hijacking of a British aircraft and the kidnapping therefrom of President Tshombe, who has since died in illegal captivity?
§ Mr. StewartThe hon. Member should put that Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonI have.
§ Mr. RankinDespite what my right hon. Friend has told us, is he aware that at the weekend a British Air Line Pilots' Association officer was able to move about a prohibited area of London Airport uninterrupted and not even challenged, and, during that period, could have planted as many bombs as he wanted on British aircraft which were parked in that prohibited part of the airport?
§ Mr. StewartYes, I have seen the statement, but this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Several Hon. Members rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Crossman. Statement.