§ 2.49 p.m.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will release any statistics concerning "near-miss" reports by aircraft pilots; and if not, why not.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, this is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority which, through the National Air Traffic Services, is responsible for the publication of such statistics. I am advised by the Chairman of the Authority that figures for air-miss reports involving civil aircraft in United Kingdom airspace over a 10-year period have up to now been published by the CAA in its Annual Survey of Accidents. In future these statistics will also be included in the Authority's annual report and accounts.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for that Answer which, to tell the truth, is more satisfactory than I expected. Can he say what exactly is the definition of "a near-miss"?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I am afraid that I would have to ask the noble Lord for notice of that question. It would be important that the answer should be accurate.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, can the Minister say why military aircraft are not included in the list of "near-misses" but only civil aircraft as he said in his Answer?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I imagine that there might well be security considerations, but I shall inquire on this statistical point.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, is it not the case that these accident reports, including as they do information from incidents provided by amateur pilots, are sometimes unreliable and that the statistics often show, or report, air-misses which on investigation prove to be nothing of the sort, and they may therefore generate unnecessary alarm and despondency?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I think it is true that more reports come in than are justified in terms of the seriousness of the incidents, but each report is carefully considered by an expert committee and the statistics which are published cover those cases where there has been a considerable element of risk.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he considers that my supplementary question about the definition of "a near-miss" does not arise from my original Question and therefore that he requires further notice, or would he be kind enough to let me know on this Question?
Lord ORAMNo, my Lords; I was not implying that it did not arise; it was just that the noble Earl's original Question did not indicate more than a general interest in the publication of statistics. I had not the particular information, and I regarded it as most important on such a technical question that I should give the exact information. I shall write to the noble Earl.