§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many aircraft accidents involving 296 Service personnel or families have taken place in each of the years 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957, distinguishing between accidents to (a) Service, and (b) charter or contract aircraft; and whether any action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government in the matter.]
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, in 1954 there were three accidents to Royal Air Force transport aircraft engaged on trooping in which passengers were killed or injured; in 1955 and 1956 there were none; in 1957 there have been two. The comparable figures for charter aircraft were one in 1954, none in 1955, three in 1956, and one in 1957. During this time over half a million passengers have been carried. While we shall continue to watch the position very closely, Her Majesty's Government do not consider that the accident record either of Transport Command or of the charter companies gives cause for anxiety.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government state how many people have lost their lives this year in such accidents, and will they now allow the Air Corporations to tender for trooping contracts?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I cannot give an answer to the noble Lord's first supplementary question without notice, but if he will put a Question down I will certainly provide him with the information. As to the second supplementary question, I will consult my right honourable friend.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, will the noble Lord, in consulting his right honourable friend with regard to the second part of my noble friend's supplementary question, bear in mind that the Air Corporations will have to bear the brunt of the transporting in time of war? Why should they not be able to get a fair share in time of peace? As to the other Answer the noble Lord gave, I hope he will accept it from me that his—I will not say complacency; I would never accuse him of that; but his statement regarding the number of accidents this year and the loss of personnel in Service accidents is causing considerable disquiet.
LORD GIFFORDMay I ask the noble Lord whether there is any reason to 297 believe that the charter companies do not operate their aircraft with both safety and efficiency?
§ LORD MANCROFTThe charter companies do operate their aircraft with safety and efficiency. I am glad the noble Lord, Lord Lucas of Chilworth, acquitted me of complacency. I had no intention whatsoever of giving that impression, nor indeed did I. Without appearing to be complacent, I must remind your Lordships that the number of accidents for the period in question is so small as to be statistically insignificant. That, of course, entirely omits the question of human tragedy. The other question the noble Lord asked me concerning the whole question of air trooping is of a much wider nature. I am afraid I should like to see it on the Order Paper.
§ VISCOUNT THURSOMy Lords, when the noble Lord is giving his attention to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Lucas of Chilworth, would it not be a great advantage if the independent operators—if, indeed, they are, as he says and as I believe they are, as safe in their operations as the Corporations are in theirs—were encouraged to extend their field, so that, in the event of war, Transport Command would have for their reinforcements a healthy civil air service of independent operators as well as the statutory Corporations, just as the Royal Navy for so many generations have been able to call upon the Mercantile Marine to help them in their operations in wartime?
§ LORD MANCROFTThere is much in what the noble Viscount says, but the whole question of air trooping goes far beyond the Question which the noble Lord has on the Order Paper.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, do not the private traders themselves say that they cannot afford to buy very modern and up-to-date aircraft such as those used by the Corporations? In a great number of cases what they purchase are second-hand aeroplanes and at much lower than normal prices. Unless something is done about that, we shall probably go on having some accidents and loss of life. As loss of life in this way in Service trooping is much greater, apparently, than in other means of transit, it seems unreasonable that something further should not be done about it.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, the noble Viscount will forgive me for saying it, but I do not think that is a very helpful supplementary question.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHI do not mind.
§ LORD MANCROFTNothing that the noble Viscount says will detract from the supplementary question put by the noble Lord, Lord Gifford. The operators who fly those aircraft have to undergo very stringent tests and the safety regulations are most stringently observed. That is the important point arising out of this Question.