§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statutory requirement exists for Mm to hold inquiries into the disappearance without trace of British-registered aircraft.
§ Mr. NobleThere is no statutory requirement for an investigation to be held466W into the disappearance of a British registered aircraft but the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1969, apply, inter alia, to any accident to a British-registered aircraft anywhere in the world. These regulations provide that the Secretary of State may, at his discretion, where it appears to him to be expedient in the public interest, direct that a public inquiry be held—Regulation 16(1). In addition, they provide for the Chief Inspector of Accidents to determine whether or not to institute an Inspector's investigation — Regulation 8(2). The Secretary of State has no power to hold an inquiry himself.