§ 17. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why it was necessary to order Boeing Strato-Cruisers from U.S.A.; and what was their cost.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Lindǵren)The order has been placed in the United States for six Boeing Strato-Cruisers, in order to enable the British Overseas Airways Corporation to operate on equal terms with foreign airlines on the highly competitive North Atlantic route during the years 1948–50 before the new British trans-Atlantic airliners are ready. It is anticipated that their cost will be within a figure of 12 million dollars.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIn view of the continued shortage of British civil transport aircraft, will the Minister publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT when the new machines being built in this country under the aegis of the Brabazon Committee are expected to be ready for operations?