HL Deb 09 November 1971 vol 325 cc235-7

2.45 p.m.

LORD SHAC'KLETON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given Her Majesty's Government Private Notice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a Statement about the Royal Air Force Hercules C 130 transport plane which crashed into the sea off the coast of Italy this morning.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)

My Lords, it is with great regret that I have to inform the House that shortly after 5 o'clock this morning a Hercules air-craft of the Royal Air Force taking part in an exercise in the Mediterranean crashed into the sea some 20 miles from Pisa while en route to Sardinia. Five R.A.F. crew members, one British parachute jumping instructor and 46 Italian Army personnel were on board. A search was mounted immediately and continues; wreckage has been sighted and some bodies recovered; no survivors have so far been reported. An R.A.F. team of investigators will shortly fly to Italy for joint investigation with the Italian military authorities of the cause of the accident. I am sending a message of sympathy to the Italian Minister of Defence. I am sure that the House would wish to join me in an expression of sympathy to the next of kin at this difficult time.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I am sure that the House is grateful to the Secretary of State for giving that reply, and certainly we should very much like to join with him in expressing our sympathy and ask that he will associate the whole of the House in that message. Is the noble Lord aware—I am sure he is—that this sympathy should certainly in-clude the R.A.F.? Would he also con-firm that Air Support Command, or Transport Command as it was, has an unparalleled record of safe operation and that this accident in no way casts doubt on the safety and efficiency of the R.A.F. in these exercises?

LORD BYERS

My Lords, we on these Benches very much wish to be associated with the views expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, and in particular to be associated with the sentiments of sympathy and condolence to the next of kin.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords who have spoken, and I will, of course, pass the noble Lord's message on to the R.A.F. Any of your Lordships who have flown with the R.A.F. Air Support Command or had anything to do with them will know that they have an unparalleled record of safety and devotion to service.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say which authority will be responsible for making the report about this accident, and whether the report will be published?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, it is not the usual practice to publish the report of the findings of a board of inquiry, but certainly, if my noble friend wishes me to do so, I should be willing to make a further statement.