LOSS OF RSAF PLANES

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health (a) whether the inquiry into the loss of the BAC Strikemaster plane of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on the 8th of May 1984 has submitted a report on the loss and, if it has, will the Ministry of Defence make available to the House the report; (b) whether any investigation or inquiry has been made into the loss of the Hunter plane of the RSAF on the 17th of May 1984 and, if so, with what results; (c) how many planes belonging to the RSAF have been lost over the last ten years; and (d) whether he will make a statement about the loss of the two planes and whether the RSAF has taken any steps to guard against such losses in the future.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: It is established parliamentary practice in the United Kingdom, on which ours is based, not to disclose information which jeopardises essential defence interests, including operational defence matters, Also following British practice, the Ministry of Defence does not publish Board of Inquiry reports. Doing so would raise security problems.

These considerations apply with particular force to RSAF matters, since details of airforce operations are naturally not for public disclosure. Nevertheless, each time a major aircraft accident occurs, the Armed Forces Council convenes a Board of Inquiry to investigate the case thoroughly. No difficulties are glossed over, and any shortcomings uncovered are put right. This was the case with the Strikemaster and Hunter accidents, for which Boards of Inquiry were convened on 10th May, 1984 and 26th May, 1984 respectively. Everything practical which can be done to guard against aircraft losses is already being done. Accidents, unfortunate as they are, can never be completely eliminated, but the accident rate will be kept to the minimum.