§ 34. Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Supply how many aircraft are now being held by his Department; to what extent they are being fully utilised; and how far he visualises a rundown in the number held during the current year.
§ Mr. W. J. TaylorThere are 411 aircraft held by the Ministry of Supply excluding those awaiting disposal. These aircraft are fully utilised although there are inevitably occasional gaps between the use of an aircraft for one task and another. I do not foresee any significant rundown during the current year.
§ Mr. MasonCan the hon. Gentleman say how many of these aircraft are in 905 storage and are not being used at all; secondly, what methods are adopted by his Department suitably to dispose of redundant aircraft with the smallest loss of public money?
§ Mr. TaylorI do not believe any aircraft are held in storage. There is, as I have said in the Answer I have just given, a slight delay between the use of aircraft for one task and another. In the last two years there has been a reduction in the holding of more than 150 aircraft of all types. These aircraft are used for research and development. They are needed as the tools with which my Department does its job and there is no real discernible waste.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs my hon. Friend aware that had the Conservative Government not cancelled the several hundred Canberra bombers ordered by the Labour Government the position today would have been even more difficult?
§ Mr. TaylorThat is true.