§ Mr. Rankinasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he accepts the conclusion in the Report on the Safety 279W Performance of United Kingdom Airline Operators that while the safety level of United Kingdom civil air transport undertakings, as a whole, has improved it is still below that achieved by the airlines of the United States of America and Australia; and what steps he plans to take to meet this criticism and to reassure the air travelling public.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuWe accept the conclusion but the Report itself contains much to reassure the travelling public. The improved level of safety which must be the object is not to be obtained by anything other than continued effort and attention of all concerned and by vigilance by the statutory authorities. The Report itself makes various suggestions and recommendations and, as my right hon. Friend has already announced, the Board of Trade machinery is being strengthened along lines indicated in the Report.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking, in view of the recent report on air safety, to raise the performance of independent airline operators to the same level as that of the pilots of the State corporations.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuMy aim, and I am sure the aim of all operators and pilots, is to keep on improving the level of safety all round. A review of training and licensing standards is in progress in consultation with the industry. The appointment of a Director General, and the re-organisation and strengthening of the technical directorates under him, will, I hope, increase the ability of the Board of Trade to assist all operators, who have the primary responsibility, in maintaining and improving their standards.