§ 17. Mr. Thomas Macphersonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he has given consideration to establishing a seaplane base on the Thames in view of the recent successful visit of the 35-ton flying boat "City of London."
§ Mr. LindgrenI regret that regular flying boat operations on a busy waterway like the Thames would be impracticable.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs my hon. Friend aware that on other equally busy waterways seaplanes—British seaplanes, too—have regularly used such ports? I have in mind the Nile at Cairo and the Clyde anchorages emergency port on the Clyde during the war.
§ Mr. LindgrenEven on the Nile the shipping was an embarrassment to B.O.A.C., and I think that B.O.A.C. was an embarrassment to the shipping. It is equally true, if my geography is correct, that the Nile is non-tidal whereas the Thames is tidal; and the density of shipping and tidal conditions of the Thames make this proposal impossible.
Mr. Ivor ThomasWhile I do not dispute the Parliamentary Secretary's answer, may I ask whether any further action is being taken to give effect to the Pakenham Report?
§ Mr. LindgrenThat is not an urgent matter at present, because the S.R. 45 is the only new flying boat involved in the immediate future; and the report is not at present being proceeded with.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs my hon. Friend aware that the Port of London Authority, who have some knowledge of the river and its shipping possibilities, have recommended that a seaplane base be established on the Thames?
§ Mr. LindgrenOn behalf of my noble Friend, I should like to say how much we appreciate the help of the Port of 1240 London Authority and the shipping interests in the recent landing of the flying boat on the Thames. Whilst it is a pleasure for people to do a thing once, to continue asking for that favour might become a nuisance.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyCan the Parliamentary Secretary say where the S.R. 45 flying boat will operate from if not from London?
§ Mr. LindgrenSouthampton Water.