HC Deb 07 July 1988 vol 136 c682W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now received the report of the chief inspector of accidents arising from the inquiry by the air accidents investigation branch into the Boeing 737 accident at Manchester airport in August 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The report on the exhaustive investigation into the accident to Boeing 737 G-BGJL which took place at Manchester airport on 22 August 1985 was completed in draft form in April 1988. Following this, persons and organisations whose reputations might be affected had two months to make representations. These are being considered by the inspector who is expected to be able to finalise the report for submission to the Secretary of State for Transport in the autumn. Unless a request for a review board is requested the report will then be published.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority concerning air safety, in the light of the inquiry by the air accidents investigation branch into the Boeing 737 accident at Manchester airport in August 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

My right hon. Friend has not recently discussed the Boeing 737 accident at Manchester airport with the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. The air accidents investigation branch report on the accident is not yet finalised, though its findings have been made known to the authority informally as they have emerged and the authority has already implemented a number of safety improvements in consequence. It is entirely the authority's responsibility to decide what action to take on changes in air safety regulation recommended by the AAIB.