Fitaloon at MicroShaft

RAF Nimrod

Following on from my post on “Slow Bob” Ainsworth’s brownies over the crash of Nimrod XV230, I see The Press and Journal has  a story about local Moray MP Angus Robertson challenging the New Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth to respond to a claim in the Commons that he said Nimrod surveillance aircraft have been made safe – despite being warned it was impossible to be sure this was true.

The charge was delivered by Moray MP Angus Roberson, SNP defence spokesman, following reports that defence consultants Qinetiq had said that

“no statement can or has been made to this effect”.

According to the Press and Journal Mr Robertson told Commons leader Harriet Harman that Mr Ainsworth told him and the families of the 14 servicemen who died in the crash in Afghanistan in 2006 that the plane, based at RAF Kinloss, had been made safe despite being warned it was impossible to be sure.He said:

“We were repeatedly told that defence consultant Qinetiq agreed that the aircraft was safe to fly despite the company warning, and I quote, ‘no statement can be made to this effect’.”

He called for a debate to establish which version was correct. Ms Harman said that because Mr Robertson had not warned her in advance she could not make a detailed reply but would refer the issue to defence ministers.Mr Robertson said afterwards:

“When I am told in the Commons as an MP something in black and white terms which then turns out not to be the case, that is a huge problem. That is why the MoD needs to clarify why the secretary of state said what he did which was at total variance from the report produced by their contractor, Qinetiq.”

It will be interesting to see how “Slow Bob” weasels his way out of this and even more interesting to see what the independent inquiry into the Nimrod by Charles Haddon-Cave QC says when it is published in October.

Defence chief challenged over ‘Nimrod safe’ claims – Press & Journal.