New Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth was last night challenged 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”.
The row erupted following a claim that work which is well advanced – replacing hot-air exhaust pipes and fuel pipe seals – will not be sufficient to make any risks involved in flying the plane “as low as reasonably prac- ticable” or “ALARP”.
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.”
Former RAF engineer Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Jones was involved in test- ing the Nimrod before it entered service, and has been advising relatives of the 14 who died when one of the planes exploded in the air near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
He said the additional censor was required because there was a danger the pipe could become live during a flight and put a plane at risk.
He said: “I am delighted that Angus Robertson has now taken up this challenge over having been misled.
“I do not think the MoD and Bob Ainsworth should be allowed to get away with it.”
A RAF spokesman said earlier that Mr Ainsworth had at no point misled the Commons and that the measures which have been taken have reduced the risk of fire and explosion to ALARP and the Nimrod fleet “remains airworthy and safe to fly”.
An independent inquiry is due to report in October.