§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources he has committed for increased safety checks of foreign aircraft. [25524]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department of Transport may ask the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a physical check of a foreign aircraft if there is any doubt about its safe operation. If this check reveals serious problems, the Department may ask the authority to carry out an audit of the foreign aviation authority with responsibility for the safety oversight of the aircraft. The Department has increased the funding available for these activities by 20 per cent. to £120,000 in 1996–97.
In addition, the Department has pledged up to £150,000 to support the new safety oversight programme set up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation—ICAO. This support will involve funding the provision of Civil Aviation Authority experts as members of ICAO assessment teams, which will be helping foreign aviation authorities improve their safety oversight procedures.
Both these programmes will be kept under review.