§ 37. Sir EDMUND BARTLEY-DENNISSasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is prepared, in the interests of the Royal Air Force, to take any, and what, steps to prevent the disbandment of the staff and the disuse of the plant of the Bristol Aeroplane Company used in the manufacture of the air-cooled aeroplane engine known as the Jupiter?
§ Mr. PARKER (for Captain Guest)No type of aero engine can be ordered in quantity for the Royal Air Force until its suitability for service requirements and its superiority to any other engine of the same type have been clearly demonstrated. At the moment, therefore, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to place production orders for the Jupiter engine. The Air Ministry is awaiting quotations from the Bristol Aeroplane Company for the manufacture of a few engines of a modified and developed experimental type. Those orders, if placed, should materially assist in the retention of a nucleus staff capable of further expansion if necessary.