§ 5. Mr. Beswickasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has given approval for the purchase of M.R.E. 175 aircraft by B.O.A.C.
§ Mr. LindgrenAn order for prototypes has already been agreed. The question of a production order is being actively pursued and approval in principle has already been given.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes not my hon. Friend agree that this aircraft will not be ready for five or six years, and that it is inferior in some respects, and not superior in any but one respect, to aircraft which are purchasable today?
§ Mr. LindgrenI am afraid that I have not sufficient technical knowledge to give an authoritative answer to the first part of that question. It is true that this aircraft is an insurance against delay or failure of the D.H. rob. It is considered to be an improvement on the Constellation.
§ Mr. GallacherWould the Minister approve the purchase of Scottish built aircraft if the Government encouraged the building of a factory in Scotland for the construction of such aircraft?
§ Mr. CooperWill the Parliamentary Secretary say if in his view we can afford the delay which is inevitable in the production of this aircraft, and is it not vital that we should obtain aircraft which are capable of being operated commercially now?
§ Mr. LindgrenI am in complete agreement with the hon. Member.
§ Mr. CooperCan the Minister do anything about it?
§ Mr. RankinCan my hon. Friend give an assurance that the statement he made that this machine is superior to the Constellation was made on the advice of his technical advisers?
§ Mr. LindgrenThat is the intention of those who prepared the specification.
§ Mr. BeswickWill the Parliamentary Secretary bring to the attention of those who are considering the possibility of buying some economic interim types, the fact that other people do not believe that this aircraft is superior to the Constellation?
§ Mr. LindgrenYes, Sir.