§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dangerous goods incidents attributed to the carriage of cargo have been reported to the CAA in the last 12 months; how many of these were investigated; how many of these were forwarded to the CPS for prosecution; and how many led to successful prosecutions. [94539]
§ Mr. MullinIn the twelve months to the end of September 1999, the Civil Aviation Authority received 126 reports of incidents involving dangerous goods carried as cargo. The CAA's Dangerous Goods Office reviews the circumstances of all reported incidents and will take appropriate action. If an incident is the result of a deliberate action or has potentially serious consequences, it may be referred to the CAA's Aviation Regulation Enforcement and Investigation Branch for formal investigation. Five of the dangerous goods incidents reported in the last 12 months have been referred for formal investigation. So far, one of these incidents has resulted in a prosecution by the CAA. That prosecution was successful.