HC Deb 20 February 1946 vol 419 cc250-1W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many persons were killed and injured in air accidents during January, including those in Transport Command; and whether it is intended that there shall in future be a public inquiry in all cases where civilian passengers have been concerned.

Mr. Strachey

As the hon. Member is aware, particulars of accidents involving casualties in R.A.F. passenger and troop-carrying aircraft are now published in the form of a regular monthly statement. This statement, which we hope to publish about the end of the month following that to which it refers, shows casualties to passengers and crews separately. I think that the hon. Member will obtain the figures he requires in our next return, which should be available in the Library of the House at the end of the month.

All accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft are subjected to the most searching investigation within the Service, and it is not proposed to institute a system of public inquiries to supplement these investigations when civilian passengers are carried. The carriage of civilian passengers on Transport Command services originated to meet wartime requirements; it is a temporary arrangement which will come to an end as soon as possible. My Noble Friend would, however, always be prepared to state the conclusions he has reached as to the cause or causes of any particular accident after considering the findings of the court of inquiry and the observations of those officers whose duty it is to comment upon them.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Under-Secretary of State of Air the circumstances under which a Flying Fortress was sent out from the R.A.F. station at Chivenor, North Devon, on the night of 8th January, on a routine flight in a high gale, which resulted in this plane crashing into the sea with the loss of five of her crew; and whether he will issue instructions to station commanders that needless risks should not be undertaken in bad weather in connection with purely routine flights.

Mr. Strachey

This aircraft was engaged on a routine meteorological reconnaissance flight, for which the Fortress is regularly used and well suited. Its loss was due to engine failure, not to bad weather. As an additional safety measure, after the end of the war in Europe, a larger measure of discretion was left to station commanders, and to captains of aircraft in deciding whether a flight should be undertaken or curtailed.