Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will initiate an investigation into the present arrangements covering the transport on commercial aeroplanes of radioactive materials, in terms of special security measures against terrorist attack or hijack of the aircraft;
(2) what discussions he has had with the International Civil Aviation Organisation over the air transport of radioactive materials under the United Nations recommendations for the transport of dangerous goods, section 7, in terms of special protective measures against terrorist attack or hijack;
(3) if he has had any recent discussions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation over the adequacy of physical protection measures against aircraft hijack in the transport of dangerous goods under United Nations recommendations class 1, explosives, 2, gases, 3, flammable liquids, 4, flammable solids, 5, oxidising substances, 6, poisonous substances, 8, corrosives, and 9, miscellaneous dangerous goods.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe International Civil Aviation Organisation already lays down international standards and recommended practices for the safeguarding of international civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference: these embrace measures to counter hijacks and terrorist attacks on Civil aviation. The United Kingdom's civil aviation security programme reflects these international standards, tailored as necessary to meet specific threats applying to the United Kingdom. We shall332W continue to keep these and other security matters under review within the relevant international bodies, as appropriate.