HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc692-3W
Mr. Gale

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Board of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the air collision of two Sea King helicopters embarked on HMS Ark Royal on 22 March 2003; what action he proposes to take as a result of the findings of the Board of Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [157073]

Mr. Ingram

It is not our practice or that of previous Governments to place copies of the reports from Service Board of Inquiry in the Library of the House.

A Service Board of Inquiry is an internal fact finding investigation undertaken by the Services for their own use, into the circumstances surrounding a particular accident or incident. There is a principle of confidentiality associated with BOI proceedings, which is intended to encourage the provision of forthright evidence. Accordingly, external distribution of BOI reports is usually limited to the next of kin of service personnel killed in in-service accidents, HM Coroners to assist in their preparations for Inquests, and other bodies with statutory duties to investigate incidents.

We will, when the investigation by the RN Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre is complete, place copies of the Military Aircraft Accident Summary in the Library of the House.

I shall place information on the implementation of the Board of Inquiry's recommendations in the Library of the House shortly.

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