§ 18. Mr. Ralph Morleyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to give further information as to the disposal of the Solents.
§ Mr. BeswickAll that I can add to the information given to my hon. Friend on 21st March is that two Solents have been sold under the arrangements stated.
§ Mr. MorleyIs my hon. Friend aware that two-thirds of the spares of the Solents have been sold to an organisation known as the International Air Sales Corporation and that the Corporation will be able to hold up to ransom any future purchaser of the Solents so far as the spares are concerned? Would it not have been in the interests of the taxpayer if the Ministry's agent had sold the spares directly to the public, instead of to the Corporation?
§ Mr. BeswickI am not aware of that fact, although I know that my hon. Friend is usually very well informed in these matters. I will look into the matter which he has raised.