§ 3. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Supply whether he has any plans in mind to provide further orders to Scottish Aviation Limited for Prestwick and Twin Pioneer aircraft, in view of the increasing redundancy developing in that firm.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI hope that the order for four more Twin Pioneers which my Department is negotiating will help, but beyond that I see no prospect of further Service orders. As for the foreign market, my Department has widely disseminated overseas information on the aircraft, but the main selling effort lies, of course, with the firm.
§ Sir T. MooreI am deeply grateful to my right hon. Friend for his past help in this matter, and also for the Prime Minister's implied promise last week of further help. Will he bear in mind that there is grave local anxiety at Prestwick about the present position and, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade, will he try to do something to make the export market more favourable to our products?
§ Mr. JonesYes, Sir. I am aware of the local anxiety and I hope that I look sympathetically at any suggestions about help which may be made to me.
§ Mr. RossDoes the Minister appreciate that the best way he can help, apart from encouraging exports, is to give direct support by placing a further order for the Twin Pioneer aircraft?
§ Mr. JonesYes, Sir. As I was at great pains to emphasise last week, I can place orders only when I have requirements, and the requirements for this aircraft on the part of the Services are at the moment limited.