HC Deb 16 December 1954 vol 535 c1972
54. Air Commodore Harvey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what request he has received from the British Overseas Airways Corporation for United States dollars with which to purchase D.C.7D. aircraft.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

None, Sir.

Air Commodore Harvey

Can my right hon. Friend now say whether discussions have ceased and that these aircraft are not going to be purchased, because great unrest and uncertainty has been caused to the industry in this country because of the rumours?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I can deal only with requests for import licences that I have received and not with those that I have not yet got.

Mr. Mikardo

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why it is he has had no pressure of this sort in respect of the purchases from the United States of aircraft by private enterprise airline operators, including some with which some hon. Members opposite are associated?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I am not aware of any pressure of any kind. This question refers to requests for import licences which have certainly not reached me. I have enough trouble dealing with those that have reached me without embarking on those that have not arrived.