HC Deb 23 March 1953 vol 513 c467
19. Mr. Morley

asked the Minister of Supply what is to be the future of the Princess flying boats.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

I have at present nothing to add to the information already given to the House on this subject.

Mr. Morley

In view of the fact that nearly £11 million of public money has already been spent on these boats, can the Minister give an assurance to the House that they will not be scrapped, as was suggested in a well-known organ of the Press this week-end?

Mr. Sandys

I have already given a full statement to the House about the intentions of the Government in regard to the Princess flying boats. The position is that the first boat has been undergoing flying tests. The other two are being put into storage in accordance with the statement which I made some months ago.

Air Commodore Harvey

Can my right hon. Friend say when the new engines to the flying boats are expected to be delivered?

Mr. Sandys

I think my hon. and gallant friend has in mind the coupled Proteus III engines. Work on these, unfortunately, conflicts with work going on at the Bristol Aeroplane Company on other projects of higher priority.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, if any consideration is being given to not using the two which are now in store, it would be a great pity if the experiments on these flying boats were not carried forward to fruition, since the future of civil aviation may depend upon them?

Mr. Sandys

I have already expressed my views about this project. I share the view of the right hon. Gentleman that it would be a tragedy if all the work that has gone into it came to nothing.