§ Miss Widdecombeasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many fatalities have occurred as a result of parachuting accidents involving civilian jumpers in the last 10 years;
(2) how many parachuting accidents resulting in serious injuries and involving civilian jumpers have occurred in the last 10 years;
(3) if the Government are planning to seek the voluntary agreement of charities not to use amateur and inexperienced participants for fund-raising parachute jumps; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if the Government are planning to introduce legislation to implement and enforce higher minimum standards of training before members of parachute clubs are allowed to make their first jumps; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyDetails of accidents involving civilian jumpers are available only for the last six years. During that period there were 23 fatalities, a further 144 serious accidents, and over 1 million jumps. The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the safety of sport parachuting in the United Kingdom. It has reviewed safety and operating procedures with the British Parachuting Association and will be implementing improvements in the light of the recent fatal accident at Thruxton. The occasion on which a parachute jump is made has no bearing on the inherent risks of the activity and my right hon. Friend sees no case for introducing special restrictions on participation at charitable or fund raising events.