§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what post-crash investigations into the possibility of toxic contamination are conducted by or on behalf of his Department in the event of accidents involving RAF or Royal Naval aircraft. [17517]
§ Mr. SoamesAn RAF environmental health officer is held at immediate readiness at all times to attend aircraft crash sites to identify hazards. The EHO's role is to provide occupational hygiene advice and monitoring for other personnel attending the crash site and environmental monitoring of the site to advise on soil and water contamination.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish an investigation into the recent allegations published in Newfoundland that an RAF Canberra aircraft carrying radioactive samples crashed at Goose bay, Newfoundland in 1957. [17518]
§ Mr. SoamesI am unaware of these allegations. I can confirm that an RAF Canberra crashed in the vicinity of Goose bay, Labrador, on 16 May 1957. An investigation into the incident was conducted at the time, and I know of no reason to reopen it.