§ 14. Mr. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Air what military requirement there is for a variable geometry aircraft on the lines of that proposed by Dr. Barnes Wallis.
§ 19. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent his Department has considered the practical applications of the Swallow aircraft for use in the Royal Air Force; and if he will now make a statement on its military possibilities.
Mr. WardThe variable geometry concept is at present being considered as a research project by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. Until more is known of the possibility of applying the principle it would be premature for the Air Ministry to say whether there will be a military requirement for an aircraft embodying it.
§ Mr. de FreitasIn view of the staggering possibilities of this aircraft, not only in the military field—especially for military reconnaissance—but also in the commercial field, and in view of the quite remarkable estimate given by the designer as to the modest amount of money required for the next stage of development, will the Minister consider the matter again, together with the Minister of Supply and his other colleagues, in order to see if this next stage of development should be encouraged?
Mr. WardThe Royal Air Force is deeply interested in research projects of this kind. As the House already knows, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is very well aware of the possibilities of the aircraft which the hon. Member has mentioned.
§ Mr. MasonWhat action is the right hon. Gentleman taking, as Secretary of State for Air, to find out the military possibilities of this aircraft? Secondly, to what extent have the Government now agreed that this is to be a joint project with the United States of America? Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether any preliminary discussion has already taken place with the Americans?
Mr. WardThe second part of that supplementary question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. As regards the first part, I am keeping in close touch with my right hon. Friend, and I have no doubt that when he is fully aware of the possibilities of this aircraft no time will be lost in letting me know about it.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the beauty of the principle that Dr. Wallis has expounded lies in the fact that if it can be shown that a manned aircraft involving this principle can be flown it can be applied to practically every brand, type and size of aircraft of which one can conceive? That being the case, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Minister of Supply are all taking an active interest in this matter?
Mr. WardI can gladly give that assurance. We are all extremely interested in this design, which is a very remarkable one.