§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade if any protest has been made to the Spanish authorities for the failure to keep their undertaking to supply his Department, by the end of the week commencing 19 March 1981, with a copy of the report on the crash of the Dan-Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife on 25 April 1980; if the report has now been received, translated 284W and submitted to him; and if, in view of the fact that a year has elapsed since the disaster, he will now make a statement on the report.
§ Mr. EyreNo formal protest has been made to the Spanish authorities regarding their failure to keep the undertaking to supply my Department, by the end of the week commencing 19 March 1981, with a copy of the report on the crash of the Dan-Air Boeing 727 at Tenerife on 25 April 1980. The accidents investigation branch of my Department has kept in close contact with the Spanish commission of inquiry during the course of the investigation, and the Spanish authorities are well aware of the great public interest in the United Kingdom regarding the outcome of their investigation into this accident. It is by no means unusual for an investigation in depth into a major aircraft accident to last as long as a year, regardless of whether it is conducted by Spanish, United Kingdom, United States of America or any other investigating authority. The report has not yet been received in the United Kingdom and no ministerial statement will be made until it has been received.