22 May 2006 : Column 1270W

Aircraft Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the head of the Pilot Confidential Reporting System is required to declare relevant interests. [70773]

Gillian Merron: The Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme provides a confidential reporting process for aviation personnel, including pilots. It is an independent charitable trust sponsored by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The trust operates in accordance with the standards and recommended practices of the Charity Commission. All the trustees and employees are required, under Charity Commission rules, to declare relevant interests.