§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the Government's conclusions on the value of independent investigative machinery in relation to air accidents and air misses as set out in Government observations on the first report of the Transport Committee of session 1988–89 on air traffic control safety and of the CAA's proposals to transfer responsibility for the investigation of the civil air traffic control elements of air accidents from the National Air Traffic service to the Safety Regulation group, he will instruct the Safety Regulation Group to assess the report submitted by the National Air Traffic service to the Air Accidents Investigation branch on the aircraft accident involving GUESS on 8 December 1983; if he will instruct the Safety Regulation group to examine all references to air traffic control in the Air Accidents Investigation branch report of that accident for accuracy and compliance with air traffic control rules and procedures; and if he will make it his policy to make available to the House any results of such assessments.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe accident to GUESS was the subject of a detailed investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation branch. During the course of this investigation the inspector considered all relevant circumstances including the ATC procedures adopted. Following publication of the accident report, there was no request for a review board and no evidence has subsequently been produced sufficient to justify reopening the investigation. It is not within the power of the Secretary of State to instruct the CAA further to examine this matter.