HC Deb 08 February 1954 vol 523 cc806-7
1. Mr. Teeling

asked the Minister of Supply what is causing the delay in ordering radar and radio equipment for British aircraft; and what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the requirements of the Royal Air Force and factories building aircraft for State civil airlines, so that orders are put in time to have new aircraft fitted immediately the aircraft are otherwise completed and ready for delivery.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

I am not aware that there has been any avoidable delay in the placing of these orders.

Mr. Teeling

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the firms responsible for producing radar equipment feel that the prototypes are sometimes actually in the air before the orders for the equipment have been placed, so there may well be 18 months' delay? They consider that in some cases the aircraft might almost be obsolete before the equipment is produced. Will my right hon. Friend look into this matter very seriously?

Mr. Sandys

In the production of aircraft and electronic equipment new technical advances are being made all the time and we have continuously to try to balance the advantages of earlier delivery against the advantages of incorporating a new development which has since been discovered in the industry; and we do our best to arrive at a sensible compromise. I am not aware of any complaints, however. Having to balance the one consideration against the other is a continuous process.

Mr. Teeling

While fully realising what my right hon. Friend says, may I ask him whether he does not agree that there can be a very great danger from thinking that something particularly brilliant is about to be produced and holding back to let it be incorporated in the equipment? Is there not a time when we really should decide to get on with what we have already invented?

Mr. Sandys

That is our problem all the time. I am well aware that the best is the enemy of the good.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Are British civil aircraft now supplied with the radar safety instruments which are available?

Mr. Sandys

That is not the responsibility of my Department. The airline corporations usually place their orders direct with the manufacturers. Very little Service equipment is incorporated in civil airline aircraft.