HC Deb 22 December 1954 vol 535 c2749
33. Mr. Dodds

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to make a statement giving details of the Bristol Sycamore helicopter in Kenya.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward)

I should prefer not to make a statement until after the Christmas Recess.

Mr. Dodds

Would the hon. Gentleman give some reason for that? Is he not aware that the helicopter has been flying and that in the past there has been substantial criticism of the slowness of the Service authority in thinking of the difficult lives the men in Kenya have to lead and who might be helped very much by this form of aircraft?

Mr. Ward

I know the helicopter in Kenya has made a promising start, but I still think it would be premature to make a statement until we have had greater experience of operating at these heights. I hope to be in Kenya early in January, and I shall make a point of examining the whole of the helicopter question when I am there.