§ 2.34 p.m.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, I beg to ask the following question of which I have given Notice to the noble Lord, the Minister of Civil Aviation: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make regarding the aircraft crash at Northolt Airport yesterday.
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD PAKENHAM)My Lords, I wish to express my own deep distress and that of His Majesty's Government at this disaster. I know that your Lordships will join me in offering our profound sympathy to the relatives of those who lost their lives. The Chief Inspector of Accidents was on the scene soon after the occurrence, and preliminary investigations have already begun in association with the Royal Air Force and with the Swedish authorities. In the light of these, I shall decide whether a public court investigation should be held.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask the Minister if he will accept the assurance that the noble Lords who sit on this side of the House, as I am sure is the case on every side of the House, wish to associate themselves with those words of sympathy for those who have suffered? Secondly, without pressing the noble Lord in any way, could he arrange to make an announcement when he has come to his decision whether there should or should not be a public inquiry?
LORD PAKENHAMI am most grateful to the noble Lord for what he has said. I will certainly make an announcement as soon as a decision has been reached.