§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he is aware 1404W of the public concern regarding the number of fatal accidents occurring in ferrying troops home in converted bombers; why parachutes are not worn by crews and passengers; and if he will in future make public the figures of all casualties.
§ Mr. StracheyNothing we can do to avert accidents on these Services will be left undone. But the House must face the fact that casualties will inevitably occur. The full figures for each month will be published as soon as they are available, and copies of the official statement will be available in the Library. As for carrying parachutes, we have gone into the question very carefully. Our decision, which follows civil aviation practice, is that they would not provide any real safeguard to passengers or crews on these flights.