§ Mr. Monroasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that pilots of British light aircraft have to sign an agreement in France before taking off for Great Britain accepting financial responsibility for all search and rescue operations by the French in the event of an accident in the Channel, he will make representations to the French Government so that British aircraft leaving France are treated the same as French and other aircraft leaving Great Britain in regard to search and rescue.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThis undertaking in respect of the costs of air sea rescue operations arises as a condition of dispensation from the French regulations which require that for flights over water aircraft shall carry certain survival equipment. These regulations apply to aircraft of all nationalities leaving France and to French aircraft returning to France from the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom requirements in respect of international general aviation operations are being reviewed having regard to the international standards and 91W recommended practices published by I.C.A.O. earlier this year as Annex 6 Part II to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. I consider it advisable to await the outcome of this review which will include consultations with organisations representing general aviation.