§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the titles, names of contractors and dates of all external research contracts on air safety commissioned by his Department since 1985.
§ Mr. NorrisFollowing an examination of the Department's records I can inform the hon. Member that the only external safety-related research directly commissioned by the Department are the following:
- 1. Impact Modelling Programme commissioned with the University of Cranfield's Impact Centre in 1991, and;
- 2. Explosion/Decompression Signature Identification Research Programme, commissioned with the University of Southampton in 1993.
These are both in support of the Department's air accident investigation branch.
The responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. As a consequence research aimed at improving safety standards is commissioned by the Authority. Occasionally the Department has contributed funds for specific projects managed by the CAA.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice is given to civil pilots concerning the actions to be taken to maximise safety when entering an area known to be subject to directional flow control for military low flying.
§ Mr. NorrisIn the interest of mutual flight safety civilian pilots have been given advice and information on military low flying operations and the directional flow control for military low flying in the following recent publications and circulars:
- 1. June 1993—Information Circular AIC 89/1993.
- 2. August 1993—The United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (the United Kingdom Air Pilot) section RAC 5-0-1.1.
- 3. August 1993—The Civil Aviation Authority's General Aviation Safety Information Leaflet.
I have made arrangements with the Civil Aviation Authority for the hon. Member to receive copies of the documents mentioned.