Princess Flying Boats (Hansard, 16 November 1953)

§ 1. Mr. Morley
asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement about the future of the Princess flying boats.

3. Dr. Bennett
asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now reconsider his earlier decision and allow to be allocated to the Princess flying boat the few Proteus III geared engines needed to make this aircraft earn its keep.

§ 11 and 12. Mr. Beswick
asked the Minister of Supply (1) the date by which engines will be available for the Princess flying boats; what engines they will be; and how many there will be for each machine;
(2) what steps he has taken to dispose of the Princess flying boats; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)
As the House knows, one Princess flying boat has been fitted with Proteus II engines and is carrying out development trials; the other two, which are only partially built, have been cocooned and stored. The work of completing these, and fitting all three aircraft with suitable engines, would be likely to cost several million pounds more.
Before the Government decide whether to authorise the expenditure of this further sum of public money, I am obtaining the views of airline operators who might be interested in acquiring and operating these aircraft. When these discussions are completed I shall make a further statement to the House.

§ Mr. Morley
Can the Minister say when a final decision may be reached and an indication of the reponsibilities there will be in such a decision?

§ Mr. Sandys
I cannot say how long these talks will last. There is a good deal of correspondence connected with them. I shall make an announcement to the House as soon as any decision is taken, but I would not like to anticipate the outcome of the discussions.

Dr. Bennett
Can my right hon. Friend say whether, if suitable employment for these boats is offered by these operators, a degree of priority will be provided for their equipment with the Proteus III, or any newer engine? Is he aware that the feeling is very widely held in this country that £11 million or £12 million worth of flying boats is far better turned into a wage-earning beast of burden than a sort of cocooned white elephant?

§ Mr. Sandys
On that last proposition we can all agree.

§ Mr. Beswick
Will the Minister say that it is a fact that these machines could now operate across the Atlantic on an operationally and financially unbeatable basis, provided that they were equipped with the right kind of engines? Will he see that these engines, that are potentially available, are made available for these fine boats?

§ Mr. Sandys
As the hon. Gentleman knows and as he said himself, it is a question of engines.

§ Mr. Woodburn
Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the mood of the civil aviation people changes from time to time between flying boats and land planes, and that if we had to revert to flying boats it would be extremely valuable to keep these machines in storage ready to be developed?

§ Mr. Sandys
I agree that views on aviation are very volatile.