HC Deb 10 February 1943 vol 386 c1294
16. Mr. Purbrick

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production the cause of the delay of some two years between the order and delivery to this country of the first dive-bombers from America, for the most part of which time America was neutral and there was not a question of priority being necessary.

The Minister of Aircraft Production (Sir Stafford Cripps)

The interval between the dates of the orders for these aircraft and their delivery was occupied mainly in overcoming exceptional difficulties of design, necessitating modifications dictated by operational experience and the solution of problems inherent in the rapid expansion of the production of new types of aircraft.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson

Is it not a fact that two years' delay is comparatively small in introducing any new type of aircraft?