American Aircraft (B.O.A.C.) (Hansard, 3 February 1955)

§ 13. Mr. Nabarro
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet made a decision in regard to applications by British Overseas Airways Corporation for acquisition of dollars for purchase of United States DC-7D aircraft in preference to Bristol Britannias; and what steps he has taken to establish the suitability of Bristol Britannia aircraft for the purposes envisaged.

§ Mr. P. Thorneycroft
A proposal to acquire 19 DC-7C aircraft was submitted on 1st January and is now under consideration.

§ Mr. Nabarro
Will by right hon. Friend have regard to the views that were expressed in this House in a debate as long as three months ago, and the fact that there is still standing on the Order Paper a Motion signed by some of hon. Friends and myself deploring any purchase of American aircraft for a purpose which can be very well fulfilled by existing British manufacturing facilities?

§ Mr. Thorneycroft
In general, import licences for aircraft are issued if suitable British aircraft do not appear to be available, but that question raises matters of considerable technical complexity and difficulty, upon which I am being advised by the Ministries of Supply and Transport.

§ Sir R. Perkins
On a point of order. Might we have an answer to the Question on the Order Paper, which referred to the 7D aircraft? The Minister referred to the 7C aircraft, which is an entirely different one.

§ Mr. Thorneycroft
I am obliged to my hon. Friend. The application is for 7C aircraft.

§ Mr. Nabarro
Further to the point of Order. My Question referred to DC-7D aircraft. Might I have an answer as to that type of aircraft and not about the 7C aircraft?

§ Mr. Thorneycroft
My hon. Friend is perfectly entitled to take that point. No application has been received in respect of 7D aircraft.

§ Mr. Nabarro
On a point of order. I was completely misled, Mr. Speaker, as was the House, by my right hon. Friend's original reply which referred to an altogether different type of aircraft. As the result of the House being misled, I lost my opportunity to put a supplementary question. Might I, therefore, put a further supplementary question?

§ Mr. Speaker
There seems to be a certain amount of alphabetical confusion about the matter. I think the hon. Member might clarify it by means of a subsequent Question.

§ Mr. S. N. Evans
Is it not a fact that more people are now crossing the Atlantic by air than by water? Will the Minister give an undertaking that nothing shall be done to limit the competitive force of British airline companies in terms of safety, comfort, and speed? If it is all right for the Americans to buy the Vickers Viscount, why should it not be right for B.O.A.C. to buy the DC-7?

§ Mr. Thorneycroft
This relates to a technical problem which we are at present considering.