HC Deb 24 April 1961 vol 639 cc24-5
33. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he proposes to order for military purposes any aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Sir A. V. Harvey) on 14th November last and to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 20th February.

Mr. Rankin

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that vertical take-off and landing is now a development which is entirely practicable? Does he realise that it can be applied to civilian aircraft up to a certain capacity? Will not he agree that this development would be encouraged if he were to place a military order or two? Will he agree, also, that it would have a tremendous effect in reducing the congestion with which we are faced at present at London Airport and other airports in the country?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That vertical take-off is practicable, there can be no doubt. I think it is a tribute to the British firms concerned which have shown the way. We have developed two experimental types, and we are negotiating in the case of one of them, the Hawker P 1127, the possibility of developing it jointly with the Germans.

Mr. McMaster

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to make available more planes such as the SC 1, as there can hardly be a military requirement until sufficient vertical take-off and landing aircraft are available for a full and fair evaluation to be made by the Army of this important and easily dispersible type of support fighter or reconnaissance plane?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Two experimental planes of the SC 1 type have been developed, but one thing which would cause a setback to vertical take-off would be for the Ministry of Aviation or anyone else to start developing and actually producing large numbers of planes for which in fact there is no demand.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is not this a field in which this country has taken the lead in inventiveness and skill? Does the Minister mean that there is no military requirement for this revolutionary plane?

Mr. Thorneycroft

No, I do not say that. I said we were developing the Hawker P 1127 and seeking to do that in co-operation with our allies in Europe.