§ VISCOUNT SWINTONasked His Majesty's Government whether a statement can now be made about the procedure for investigating accidents to civil aircraft, and if they will consider the decision not to publish the Report of the Newton Committee of the National Civil Aviation Consultative Council.
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD PAKENHAM)The procedure for investigating accidents to civil aircraft has been occupying my attention and that of my predecessor for a considerable time. My predecessor referred the question to a sub-committee of the National Civil Aviation Consultative Council, presided over by Mr. C. M. Newton, which submitted a valuable Report. Since assuming office I have been examining the matter in the light618WA of this Report and of the wider considerations which arise. As a result, while not going so far as the Committee propose, I have decided to make a number of modifications in the present practice.
My predecessor had not intended to publish the Committee's Report, in view of the confidential relationship between the Minister and the National Civil Aviation Consultative Council. However, after reviewing the particular circumstances and consulting the Council, I have decided that the Report should be published, though this is not to be taken as establishing any precedent for the future. The Report will be accompanied by a Memorandum setting out in detail the modifications which I have decided to make in the present practice, and the reasons for which I am unable to accept certain recommendations in the Report. I have arranged for publication of the Report and Memorandum as a Command Paper which will be available to your Lordships to-day.
I wish to take this opportunity to pay sincere tribute to the work of the Newton Committee. Their Report is a most valuable document, and I am much indebted to them for the care and thoroughness with which they performed their difficult task.
House adjourned at eighteen minutes before seven o'clock.