HL Deb 14 October 1968 vol 296 cc1183-4WA
THE EARL OF HARROWBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have taken or will take any steps, either alone or in conjunction with other Governments or airline operators, to deal with the risk of "hijacking" in Civil Aviation all over the world.

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

Her Majesty's Government voted in favour of the resolution passed at the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation in September urging all members to support the principles of and to ratify as soon as possible the Tokyo Convention on Offences and certain other Acts Committed on board Aircraft. The resolution also calls on the Council of the Organisation to study further the problem of "hi-jacking". Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the Convention this month. It includes a provision that, when a person on board has unlawfully seized control of an aircraft in flight, Contracting States shall take all appropriate measures to restore control to its lawful commander and to permit passengers and crew to continue their journey.

British airlines which are members of the International Air Transport Association are also co-operating in a study of the problem and the matter has been taken up by the International Federation of Airline Pilots. But I understand that it has so far proved difficult to devise effective preventive measures which would not involve undue risk to the aircraft, passengers and crew.

House adjourned at ten minutes past five o'clock.