§ 12. Mrs. McLaughlinasked the Minister of Defence if he is now ready to make a statement about the long range troop and freight aircraft which is to be ordered.
§ 22. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Defence whether he will now make a further statement about the replacement of existing strategic air freighters and the provision of new freighters with longer range and greater capacity.
§ 24. Mr. Peytonasked the Minister of Defence whether he will now state his proposals for the provision of a long-range freight aircraft for Royal Air Force Transport Command.
§ 26. Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Defence if he will give an assurance that the requirements of the Army will be given full weight in the consideration of the type of long range freighter aircraft to be ordered for Transport Command.
§ Mr. SandysIn order to carry especially heavy and bulky loads, it has been decided to buy a number of long-range 1164 freighter aircraft for Royal Air Force Transport Command. The type selected is the Britannic 3, a freighter version of the Britannia to be built by Short and Harlands of Belfast.
§ Mrs. McLaughlinMay I warmly thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, despite the long delay there has been in taking this decision, and may I also say to him that it will give tremendous encouragement to the people of Northern Ireland now to realise that this aircraft has been vindicated as being the right kind to be chosen for British forces? May I further assure him that the amount of work given to Northern Ireland will be a tremendous encouragement there?
§ Mr. WallIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Blackburn 107 could be in the air in five years? Can he say whether the new Britannia will be flying within the same period of time?
§ Mr. SandysYes, roughly.
§ Mr. BrownWould the Minister tell us whether he is satisfied that the Army has accepted the position that this aeroplane will not have front loading facilities? Does he seriously take the view that the decision on a plane as comparatively as slow as this, compared with jets, is a wise decision when we are talking about something which will not in fact be available in the air for another six years or so?
§ Mr. SandysThe loading arrangements are in accordance with the Army's requirements. As for the speed and performance of this aircraft, of course it will fit in very well with the Britannias which are to carry the troops and the less bulky freight.
§ Mr. PeytonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the decision in this matter will be particularly welcomed because a British aircraft has been ordered? Can he say a word to explain why there has been such a long delay in placing the order, which was foreshadowed in last year's defence White Paper?
§ Mr. SandysThere are two reasons for delay.
§ Mr. SandysOne is that it is a complicated requirement that has had to be considered very carefully not only inside the Government Departments concerned but also with the industry. The second is that we thought it right to try to choose an aeroplane which would not only meet military requirements but also might have a civilian market.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the Minister quite convinced that this aircraft is a superior aircraft to the other two designs submitted, and that the jets fly higher, faster longer and farther? Can he say whether this design was chosen because of the merits of the machine or because of the economic conditions of Northern Ireland? If it was for the latter reason, would it not have been better to have chosen the best machine and to have sub-contracted some of the work out to Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. SandysThis aircraft was chosen primarily, of course, on military grounds to meet military requirements, but, as I said a moment ago, in choosing it we naturally did think it right, as we have a responsibility to the country as a whole, and not only to the Services, to try to adopt a type which might also be the best for a civilian requirement. It is very expensive to order a small number of aeroplanes for the Services alone, if there is no prospect of any civilian market.