§ 51. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent requests he has received from the British Overseas Airways Corporation for sanction to purchase United States jet air liners.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave last week to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin).
§ Mr. HunterIs the Minister aware that reports have appeared in the Press that the Chairman of B.O.A.C. has applied for Government sanction to spend millions of pounds on eight American jet liners for use by B.O.A.C.? I assume from the Minister's reply that those reports are not correct.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am grateful to the hon. Member for raising this matter. It is particularly important that all who work on the airport should know the facts. Perhaps I might recapitulate them. A most careful and detailed technical examination is being undertaken, both of the American aircraft, which are Britain's competitors, and British jet and turboprop aircraft, with a view to meeting the requirements which the new Chairman of B.O.A.C. has now worked out as a result of the technical study which his experts have carried out. Until all these technical examinations are completed, no firm decisions can possibly be taken about the kind of aircraft that will be required.
§ Mr. StraussWhile one appreciates that a decision of this kind cannot be taken in a hurry, surely it is a fact that under the former Chairman as well as the present Chairman of B.O.A.C. this matter has been considered for months and months, presumably with the Minister. When are we likely to receive a decision on this matter? If it has not been pursued for many months past, surely it ought to have been. If it has not been pursued, what is the reason?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe right hon. Gentleman has asked me the reason, and I will tell him. First, in fairness to the past Chairman and management of B.O.A.C., it must be said that this air business has changed enormously in the past six months. The new big American jet aircraft have come forward and large numbers of orders have been placed. I believe that something like 200 aircraft have been ordered by foreign airlines which compete with B.O.A.C. The first task that I asked the new Chairman to perform was to examine the whole situation in the light of these new developments. That he has now done, and, as a result, we are carrying out this technical assessment of both the new American aircraft, which his competitors will soon be flying—within a measurable number of years—and what the British industry has to offer and what B.O.A.C. has on order. I do not think that any time has been wasted upon this study, on which depends the whole future of the Corporation.
§ Mr. RankinThe Minister referred to the technical examination now going on in regard to the Boeing 707. Is it the case that already a statement has been made by someone of authority connected with this investigation to the effect that this aircraft will sell readily in other countries as well as America? If that is true, is it a wise statement to make and in the interests of the development of British aviation?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not know who made the statement. All I can say is that both British and American companies are trying to sell their aircraft, and no doubt both will be making wide statements as to their capabilities.