§ 20. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Aviation whether he will increase his purchases of Argosy aircraft from Whitworth Gloster Aircraft Limited.
§ Mr. J. AmeryNo, Sir. Fifty-six Argosies have been ordered for the Royal Air Force. I know of no requirement for more.
§ Mr. EdelmanIs the Minister aware that his reply will be greatly regretted in Coventry, particularly among the workers in the aircraft industry who have been made redundant? Would it not pay the Minister, in order to keep the design teams and the research workers together as a unit pending the production of the future air freighter to the specification of OR 351, to give the company instructions to build against future orders rather than put the aircraft workers on the dole?
§ Mr. AmeryI think that the company has done a magnificent job on the Argosy, but I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree with me that it would be a mistake to build aircraft, expensive as they are today, when there is no fixed requirement, either domestic or foreign.
Mr. LeeCan the Minister think of any successor to the Argosy which is 885 likely to be flying in the near future? If not, would it not be a good thing to look at the economic break-even point of great ventures like the Argosy to ensure that the technical teams are not broken up, since in fact there may well be requirements for them long before any further development can fly?
§ Mr. AmeryYes, I understand that both the Air Staff and my Department have been exchanging views on this subject. At the moment we do not see any need for additional Argosies.