HC Deb 09 February 2000 vol 344 cc163-4W
Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence was used by his investigators to determine the weather conditions affecting the coastline on the Mull of Kintyre in the last 40 seconds before impact of RAF Chinook ZD 576. [109119]

Mr. Spellar

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The RAF Board of Inquiry obtained evidence relating to weather conditions from the Meteorological Office, as well as from several witnesses who were in the area at the time of the accident.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received about whether the Mull of Kintyre was covered or only partly covered in cloud as RAF Chinook ZD 576 made its final approach on 2 June 1994. [109121]

Mr. Spellar

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The RAF Board of Inquiry found that the weather was very poor, with cloud and hill fog extending from below the lighthouse level (300 ft) to at least the summit of Beinn na Lice (1,400 ft), the highest point on the southern tip of the Mull.