§ 4. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Aviation at what price the Princess flying boats have been sold; to whom they were sold; and what was the rejected price offered for them in 1954.
§ The Minister of Aviation (Mr. Julian Amery)As my hon. Friend told the House on 16th January, the buyer has asked that for the present his name and plans should remain confidential. This is in view of negotiations in which he is engaged regarding the possible future use 1133 of the boats. I hope to be able to give the House more details presently. It is not the practice to disclose contract prices in the case of sales by private tender.
The 1954 offer to which I think the hon. Member is referring was conditional upon the Government first re-engining the boats and making them airworthy at a cost of several million pounds. It also depended on an assurance of long-term trooping contracts or traffic rights which we were not able to give.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a statement was made on Southern Television some weeks ago by one of the directors of the company which offered the Government £l million for the Princess flying boats, which have been cocooned for so long, believing that they had a possible use? The director's statement was that the Government are now accepting £100,000 for the flying boats.
§ Mr. AmeryI said that the offer which was made to us was conditional upon our incurring expenditure in a number of respects in which we were not able to incur it.