§ 6. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made in his consideration of the problem of developing a supersonic civil airliner.
§ Mr. SandysI am examining with the industry the problem of developing a supersonic civil airliner. I am placing separate study contracts with each of the major airframe groups and with each of the aeroengine groups, all of 11 which have, for some time, been considering this problem. The firms have been asked to study the technical issues involved, including the question of the optimum speed as well as the economic prospects. They have been asked also to explore the possibility of collaboration with suitable foreign firms.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs the Minister in direct contact with the American and French Governments on this matter, in view of the great importance of it to the whole future of the aviation industry, and is he satisfied that the best way of going about it is to place separate contracts with each firm rather than have one overall contract embraced within his Ministry?
§ Mr. SandysIn the first place, I think, this is primarily a matter for discussion beween firms. As to whether we should place separate contracts, I thought that, in the initial stage, when it is a matter of studying the problem, we should have advantage in obtaining the separate views of each of these firms. There is, of course, no thought in my mind of placing two contracts for two supersonic airliners when we have the results of those studies.
§ Mr. AlbuAre the firms with which the Minister is in negotiation themselves in contact with firms on the Continent of Europe and in the United States so that, if they decide to go ahead with the project, they will have gone some way towards the co-operation which will obviously be necessary on this very expensive project?
§ Mr. SandysContacts have already been made.