§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require the mandatory installation of security systems capable of detecting Semtex explosives for all airports in the United Kingdom handling international air traffic.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer Thursday 7 February]: The security arrangements already in place at our airports are capable of detecting explosive devices, including those containing Semtex. Our policy is to take all appropriate steps to improve those arrangements further and we will not hesitate to require the provision of any new equipment which would make a significant contribution whether developed under the Department's own aviation security research and development programme, or independently. It would, however, be a mistake to assume that any particular piece of equipment will guarantee 100 per cent. security.