HC Deb 21 June 1996 vol 279 c637W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 April,Official Report, columns 443–44, (1) on what basis the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria were selected for an inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority, [33291]

(2) if he will place in the Library copies of the results of the inspections carried out in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. [33290]

Mr. Norris

The disruption in the former Yugoslavia raised doubts as to that state's ability to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation safety standards. In the case of Bulgaria, the assessment of compliance with ICAO standards was undertaken following a number of safety-related complaints received from passengers travelling on Bulgarian registered aircraft.

In both cases, the Department of Transport felt that an independent assessment was necessary to ensure that ICAO standards were being adhered to. The reports of such inspections are commercially confidential and could be released only with the consent of the country involved.