HC Deb 31 May 1954 vol 528 cc869-71
1. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the necessity of giving greater impetus to the development of helicopters in this country, he will give consideration to the setting up of an inter-Departmental committee on which all Service and civil Departments concerned will be represented, with a view to co-ordinating a policy that will ensure that British designers and manufacturers will receive support in respect of orders from a widely spread range of actual and potential users.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

If helicopter development is not in all respects progressing quite as fast as the hon. Member and I would like, I can assure him that it is not due to any shortage of committees.

Mr. Dodds

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is a committee which acts on behalf of the seven Departments concerned with helicopters, and does he not appreciate that while design and research are second to none in this country, the Americans are leaving us well behind, because their manufacturers are getting the support which yields success?

Mr. Sandys

I do not think the progress in America is due to the multiplicity of committees. There already exists in this country an inter-Departmental committee on which all the Ministries concerned and also the civil airlines are represented, which is dealing actively with this question. I understand that it is having a meeting tomorrow.

2. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Supply in what year it is estimated that the 27-seater helicopter made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the 40-seater helicopter made by the Fairey Company will be available for passenger transport services.

Mr. Sandys

It is, I am afraid, still too early to give any reliable estimates.

Mr. Dodds

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the S.56 will be available in two years from now, and the urgent need for the Bristol 173 and S.56 prototypes to be handed to B.E.A. so that there can be some development flying before they are ready for passenger flying?

Mr. Sandys

I think that the hon. Member's estimate of the American plane's state of progress is perhaps a little over-optimistic. As for giving any estimates ourselves, it is not possible to say how soon the two types now under development in this country referred to in the Question will be completed. After that, of course, production will depend upon orders.

Mr. Dodds

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that Mr. Sikorsky said in January that the S.56 would be available for passenger flights in just over two years?

Mr. Sandys

I should be very happy indeed if I could always be sure that all the estimates given to me by firms would turn out to be correct.