HC Deb 14 April 1948 vol 449 cc946-7
10. Mr. Beswick

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the B.O.A.C. Constellation base has not yet been moved to this country.

Mr. Lindgren

Because of the amount of constructional work necessary to prepare the new base at Filton.

Mr. Beswick

Is it not the case that many hundreds of thousands of dollars are being lost while this base remains at Montreal? Will not my hon. Friend agree that it could have been possible to improvise a base in this country, and will he say why that has not been done?

Mr. Lindgren

Improvisation is not possible in this country, but a considerable amount of work has to be done at Filton and it is being taken in hand as quickly as possible. As I have already informed the House in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. Cooper), we hope that the base will be ready by the end of the year.

Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

Why is it that, in similar circumstances, the K.L.M. organisation were able to find facilities for servicing Constellations in a similar period? Why is it not possible for us to do as well as a foreign company?

Mr. Lindgren

It depends upon the ground and the hangarage available and needed. I have heard of the K.L.M base but I have not had the privilege of seeing it.

Mr. William Shepherd

If these buildings have to be constructed, why are they not being constructed at Heathrow instead of at Filton, where they will involve thousands of dead miles?

Mr. Lindgren

There is little actual new construction at Filton. It is adaptation of the Brabazon base which was being built for the Brabazon production.

Mr. Beswick

Will my hon. Friend see that a decision is made in this matter as quickly as possible? Can he also take into account the opinions of many people that it is possible to improvise here as quickly as elsewhere.

Mr. Lindgren

Yes Sir, but a great deal depends not only upon the base, but upon the delivery of Stratocruisers, which are replacing Constellations upon the North Atlantic route. Such an improvisation would make it necessary to cancel the Constellation service.

Air-Commodore Harvey

If it is not possible to improvise buildings, will the Minister see that the aircraft are brought back right away and serviced in the open, to save hard currency in the summer months?

Mr. Lindgren

I am advised against doing that.