HC Deb 12 March 1958 vol 584 cc417-8
45. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he is now taking with regard to the installation of F.I.D.O. at London Airport.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Airey Neave)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11th December last. The experiment at an R.A.F. aerodrome is now expected to begin in April or May; it will last for some months.

Mr. Beswick

I pay tribute to the interest which the Joint Parliamentary Secretary is showing in this matter, but is he aware that for eight years I have been told that new experiments are in hand, and that the cost of diversion and delay is mounting? Can he say when he hopes to do something about this matter?

Mr. Neave

I regret the delay in this matter, but there has been great difficulty in obtaining the specialised equipment for these experiments. We hope that in four or six months we shall have the information that we require in order to enable us to take a decision.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Is it not a fact that within the eight years referred to by the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for at least two years?

Mr. Beswick

As a matter of fact, eight years ago the hon. Member was demanding that the equipment should be installed in the winter of 1951. Since then he seems to be quite content that diversions continue.