§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of the Official Secrets Acts in relation to those employed at(a) Aberporth, (b) Llanbedr, (c) Manorbier and (d) Ty Groes of the Thunderbird Regiment Royal Artillery of Portsmouth and Gosford at the time of the Aer Lingus accident on 24 March 1968.[82275]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe unit referred to, more properly known as the 457 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (TA), was based at Portsmouth with one battery at Gosport. It was disbanded on 1 April 1967 —almost a year before the Aer Lingus Viscount crashed into the Irish Sea. The establishments listed played no part in the events of that day. It is therefore extremely unlikely that the employees at those establishments or any other MOD employee would have any information concerning the causes of the crash. Nevertheless, I can repeat the assurances already given by my officials to the Irish authorities that if any MOD employee, military or civilian, had any information which could help determine the causes of the crash, there would be no inhibition or restriction whatsoever as to its disclosure to the Irish Accident Investigation Officials.