HL Deb 16 May 1977 vol 383 cc452-4

2.40 p.m.

Lord TREFGARNE

My 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 propose to implement the recommendation in Aircraft Accident Report 18/76 which relates to the introduction of mandatory operating minima for non-public transport aircraft.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, may I first point out that the recommendation in Aircraft Accident Report No. 18/76 is for the publication of recommended aerodrome operating minima for non-public transport flights, and not mandatory minima as suggested in the noble Lord's Question. The Civil Aviation Authority are responsible for air safety matters, and for deciding what action is to be taken on aircraft accident report safety recommendations. They have advised me that they have accepted this recommendation. Details of a scheme for implementing the recommendation were circulated for comment to interested parties in February. The Authority are now considering the many replies received, and hope to introduce the scheme in the near future.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, and, I think, agreeing that the introduction of recommended weather minima, rather than mandatory weather minima, would be very desirable in these circumstances, may I ask whether he would agree that the accident in question would have occurred anyway, whatever the law, because the pilot in that case was wholly unlicensed? Therefore, would not the efforts of the Government and the CAA be better employed in persuading people to observe the existing law, before embarking upon making new ones?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. This accident was a very unfortunate and unusual one, and the law was indeed being flouted. Efforts should, of course, be made to ensure that people keep to the law, but that does not mean that we should not improve the situation, as this recommendation is designed to do.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, as public anxiety about air safety is increasing, with recent reports of near misses and so on, can the noble Lord say whether Her Majesty's Government will look again at their policy of not publishing anything about military accidents? I have in mind particularly the recent tragic case of the Canberra accident, which might well have some overflow value for civil accidents.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I have taken note of what the noble Earl has said. I have no doubt that the authorities concerned are constantly reviewing these matters in the light of recent events, but I will bring his suggestion to the attention of those concerned.