§ LORD GLYNasked Her Majesty's Government how many cases of fatal accidents to pilots of the R.A.F. during training exercises have been recorded by the Air Ministry between January, 1951, and January, 1955, involving damage or destruction of the aircraft involved, and how these figures compare with the period 1947 to 1951 and what has been the resultant cost.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (LORD DE LISLE AND DUDLEY)The number of accidents with fatal results during Royal Air Force operational training exercises between January, 1951, and January, 1955, in which the aircraft was damaged or destroyed, was 28. The figure for the period January, 1947, to January, 1951, was 16. In comparing these figures it must be borne in mind that the amount of flying undertaken by the Royal Air Force during the past four years was substantially greater than during the earlier period. The cost of the accidents which occurred in 1954 is assessed at just over £790,000. I regret that figures for earlier years could not be obtained without extensive research.
House adjourned at a quarter past five o'clock.