Britannic Aircraft (Hansard, 11 April 1960)

§ 34. Mr. Chetwynd
asked the Minister of Aviation when the contract for the Britannic freighter will be signed.

§ 38. Mr. Wigg
asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement on the development of the Short Britannic 3.

§ 44. Mr. G. Jeger
asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware of the anxiety in Northern Ireland over the long delay in finalising arrangements for the Britannic freighter; and whether he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to expedite this.

§ Mr. Sandys
The contract negotiations are far advanced, and I hope they will now soon be completed.

§ Mr. Chetwynd
In view of the great importance of this contract to the future of our Forces, can the Minister say why it is taking such a long time to get the matter finalised? Can he say when we may expect this freighter to be in service? How many will he order?

§ Mr. Sandys
The delay is due to the fact that we are anxious to get a fixed-price contract. Before the price can be finally agreed on, detailed specifications have to be settled. This is taking a little longer than we had expected, but the process of getting a fixed-price contract is necessary for the sake of protecting public funds.

§ Mr. Wigg
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the House appreciates the importance of getting a fixed-price contract but is also aware that the Army is very concerned to get an aircraft? Is he further aware that a year ago, when he made his first announcement, he said that the aircraft would fly in 1961, and the company said that it would fly in 1961 and be in operation by 1962? Is it not now clear that it will not be operational before 1966? Is not the real reason for the difficulty the fact that the right hon. Gentleman, when Minister of Defence, took into account not military considerations but only economic and financial considerations?

§ Mr. Sandys
I am assured by Messrs. Shorts that progress in this contract is not being held up in any way by reason of the fact that the final specifications have not yet been settled and the contract not yet signed. This is a normal process. Work is going on, tooling up is going ahead, and all the preparations for production are going ahead. I have asked about this on several occasions and I have been assured that nothing is being held up. I am not sure where the hon. Member gets some of the dates which he has quoted.

§ Mr. Wigg
From you.

§ Mr. Sandys
I cannot verify the exact dates the hon. Member has given, but I am assured that the forecasts given by the firm at the outset still hold good.

§ Mr. Wigg
On a point of order. As the Minister has challenged the accuracy of my statement, is he aware that on 11th February, 1959, he made a statement that the aircraft would fly in 1961—

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order.

§ Mr. McMaster
Is my right hon. Friend aware that, despite the remarks made in a recent debate in another place, this aeroplane will be in service before the end of 1963; and that it is a potential world beater, in terms of range, operating costs and load? Does my right hon. Friend further realise that it is imperative that the contract should be signed without delay? Finally, is he aware that, despite the fact that the contract has not been placed, the firm 881 has gone on at its own expense so that development will not be held up in any way?

§ Mr. Wigg
On a point of order. In view of the entirely unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at the earliest opportunity.

§ Mr. G. Jeger
On a point of order. Am I now inhibited from asking a supplementary question to my Question No.44?

§ Mr. Speaker
Yes.