HC Deb 18 February 1948 vol 447 cc1137-8
21. Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the target date to which the B.O.A.C. are working, by which they can give an undertaking that the maintenance base at Montreal will have been transferred to Filton; and whether work is proceeding without delay for the preparation of Filton to receive the Corporation's Atlantic maintenance organisation.

Mr. Lindgren

It is hoped to complete the transfer before the end of 1948. The answer to the last part of the Question is: "Yes, Sir."

Mr. Cooper

Does my hon. Friend realise that for over two years now I have been making representations to his Department that this transfer should take place, and that had notice been taken of those representations we should have saved many hundreds of thousands of dollars; does he realise further that at the present time delays are taking place due to protracted negotiations by his Department and B.O.A.C.; and will he see that those delays are eliminated?

Mr. Lindgren

There is a very happy co-operation between my Ministry, the Ministry of Works, the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the Ministry of Supply, to bring Filton into operational use as quickly as possible. The delay is really due to the fact that the American aircraft manufacturers of Stratocruisers are not keeping up to their delivery dates.