§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what has been the total cost of running the Airport Accident Public Inquiry including all main constituent costs of any sort, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79;
(2) what has been the total cost of running the Aircraft Accident Review Board, including all main constituent costs of any sort, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79;
(3) what has been the total cost of running the Wreck Inquiry, including all main constituent costs of any sort, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisInquiries into accidents involving ships or aircraft are instituted ad hoc and do not involve any continuing overhead costs. The cost of such inquiries in any given year depends primarily on the number of accidents that occur, and cannot of its nature be predicted. No inquiries were conducted in 1977–78.