§ 3. Mr. Rankinasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many new Vikings will be completed by February of next year; and what number he proposes to allot to British Internal Air Services.
§ Mr. LindgrenIt is anticipated that 44 Vikings will have been delivered to British European Airways Corporation by the end of February, 1947. The corporation route plans for 1947 are now being framed, and it is not possible at this stage to indicate the precise allocation of Vikings between continental and internal routes. This is, of course, primarily a matter for the corporation.
§ Mr. RankinWill my hon. Friend keep in mind the fact that a very decided attempt is being made to attract tourists to this country, and that we should allocate a fair number of these new planes to air services in order to give visitors a good impression of the condition of our internal air services?
§ Mr. LindgrenYes, Sir. These new planes will be divided as between internal and Continental services.
§ Mr. Henry UsborneArising out of the first reply, does this mean that 44 Vikings will actually be in operational use by February? My hon. Friend used the term "delivery"; will they actually be ready for use or not?
§ Mr. LindgrenThey will be in use, it they are delivered. The promise is that delivery of the 44 will be completed by the end of February, 1947. Their delivery will mean that they will immediately be put into service.