§ Mr. FavellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the research(a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority are currently funding into the use of smoke hoods on civil aircraft; at what cost; what applications for further research are currently before him; when he expects to reach a decision on them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyFollowing the B737 accident at Manchester, the air accidents investigation branch of the Department has spent £200,000 on feasibility studies to demonstrate the potential of hoods to protect passengers from the smoke produced in aircraft fires. The branch has no plans for further expenditure. The Civil Aviation Authority is expecting to spend in the region of £150,000 on cabin safety research in 1987–88, much of which has relevance to smoke hoods.
698WI understand that the CAA plans to make an announcement about the use of smoke hoods before the end of 1987.