§ 14. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how much money has been spent on experiments and test flying dealing with the refuelling of aircraft in the air; and what is his policy for the future regarding this method of refuelling.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Lindgren)Flight refuelling has been under development for a number of years and it would be difficult to state the total cost, but during the last three years, £570,000 has been spent on trials, carried out for civil aviation purposes. In deciding future policy my noble Friend will be guided, among other things, by the views of the Corporations in the light of recent operational trials on the North and South Atlantic routes, the results of which are still under examination by all concerned.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyAs this form of flight refuelling has been going on for some 12 or 14 years and large sums of money have been well spent on it, will the hon. Gentleman ask the Corporations to make up their minds whether they can utilise the information which is now available?
§ Mr. LindgrenYes, Sir. The economics of the operation, so far as the experiments themselves are concerned, are satisfactory. The inquiry now concerns the economics of the operation in relation to scheduled services.
§ Mr. ErrollWill the Minister take into account the known hostility of B.O.A.C. towards this development, which will make it possible for them to make use of British aircraft when at present they prefer to use American aircraft?
§ Mr. LindgrenI think that is a very unfair insinuation. The pilots who fly these aircraft have a right to be heard in connection with an operation which they think has some risk associated with it.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the money which has been expended falls on his Ministry or on the Corporation?
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir. On the Ministry of Supply.