HC Deb 30 January 1963 vol 670 cc909-10
2. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Defence if a decision has yet been reached on a replacement for the Beverley and Hastings aircraft.

17. Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has now completed his joint studies with United States and other bodies before coming to a decision about allocating contracts for the OR 351 aircraft.

Mr. Thorneycroft

No, Sir. Our consideration of this problem is not yet complete.

Mr. Farr

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that there are many urgent reasons why a decision should be reached soon, not the least of which is that, unless a replacement is decided on in the fairly near future, there is a real danger of these two types of aircraft falling out of the skies?

Mr. Thorneycroft

This is an important matter, but it is also a complex and potentially very costly one. It is related to the inter-related use of carriers by the Royal Navy or transport aircraft by the Royal Air Force and requires very careful consideration before we decide on it.

Mr. Eden

Has not this decision already been very long delayed? Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to speed it up, particularly bearing in mind the important implications not only for our defences but also for the employment position in various parts of the country?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I am under considerable pressure from advocates on all sides in this discussion. I naturally like to take as early a decision as I can.

Later—

Mr. Edelman

May I have an answer to Question No. 17?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member was not in his place. That Question was answered with Question No. 2.