§ 17. Sir Robin Turtonasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the policy of his Department for informing dependants of persons killed in RAF crashes of the responsibility of his Department to compensate them for the loss they have suffered.
§ Mr. KershawWhen members of the public are killed or injured in RAF crashes the Department's policy follows normal legal and commercial practice. We do not specifically invite claims against the Department but, of course, we consider sympathetically claims which are submitted.
§ Sir Robin TurtonWill my hon. Friend consider reviewing this policy? Is he aware that on 7th May a Jet Provost aircraft crashed into a field in my constituency killing two men who were working on a tractor only 400 yards from their homes, yet six weeks later nothing had been done to give any compensation to their widows although steps had been taken to compensate the farmer for his tractor? Is that not absolutely shameful?
§ Mr. KershawMy right hon. Friend is right to call attention to this particularly tragic case. I will examine carefully whether a suitable form of words can be devised to apprise members of the public of their common law rights when accidents happen. My right hon. Friend will know that the senior air staff officer of headquarters 23 Group visited the families on the day of the crash and personally told them that they could submit claims. This they have now all done.
§ Mr. JohnWill the hon. Gentleman recognise that, since the Services have to exist with the public and need their good will, urgent action by his Department on humanitarian lines would help to ease the extra administrative burden which he seems to think is insuperable?
§ Mr. KershawNo, Sir, I did not say that it was insuperable. I said that we were examining the situation. It must be borne in mind that there are 15,000 accident claims a year, and in view of that 243 total number it will be appreciated that it would be quite a job to notify all the people concerned.