HC Deb 13 February 1957 vol 564 cc1260-1
16. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made by British Overseas Airways Corporation in the purchase of new British-built long-range jet airliners to operate on the North Atlantic and on the Commonwealth routes by 1962.

Mr. Watkinson

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) on 30th January. B.O.A.C. is in discussion with various British manufacturers, and it is hoped that decisions can be reached within a few weeks.

Mr. Beswick

May I refer the Minister to what he said to us in November last year, when he said that B.O.A.C. would buy the D.H. 118? On 19th November last year his Joint Parliamentary Secretary said that a substantial number had been bought, or were to be bought, and he actually told us how much they would cost. What has happened since that time to cause the cancellation of the D.H. 118?

Mr. Watkinson

The hon. Member has not studied the reply which I gave previously. What has happened is perfectly plain. It is no use B.O.A.C. placing an order for an aircraft which cannot be sold to overseas customers.

Mr. Beswick

Those are precisely the words which I used when I said in November last year that it would not be a successful aircraft, because, through the delay, there were no overseas markets for the D.H. 118. Why has the Minister suddenly changed his mind?

Mr. Watkinson

I congratulate the hon. Member on his foresight. I have changed my mind because it was worth having a go to see if we could sell the aircraft overseas.