§ 6. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Concorde.
§ Mr. J. AmeryCollaboration with our French partners in this joint project over the past year has been excellent, and satisfactory progress has been made. Work has started on jigs and tools and 966 on the manufacture of bench test development engines. Tests and researches are proceeding into the various operational aspects. Orders for the aircraft have been received from four American airlines.
§ Mr. WilliamsWhile welcoming the placing of these orders, may I ask my right hon. Friend what is the position of orders for the control and guidance system of the aircraft?
§ Mr. AmeryI should like notice in detail of that question, but orders for the equipment of the aircraft will be divided on a 50–50 basis with our French friends in the same way as, broadly speaking, orders for the engines and airframe.
§ Mr. RankinCan the right hon. Gentleman bring us up to date and say how many Concords have been ordered?
§ Mr. AmeryI believe the figure is about thirty altogether. I have not, however, the detailed figures with me. Four American airlines have placed orders and, of course, B.O.A.C. and Air France have taken out options.
§ Sir G. NicholsonDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that it is really important that in this country we should spell "Concord" without an "e"in order to get national credit for that part of the aircraft to be made by us? Will he take steps to circulate to the Press definite instructions to spell "Concord" as an English word in English newspapers for an English plane?
§ Mr. AmeryI was glad to accept the original apology of my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on this. The beauty of the name "Concord" is that it has the same meaning in English and in French and that the modification in the spelling is very small.