19. Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Technology what has been the total expenditure of public funds on Hovercraft development in each of the last five years; and what are his estimates for each of the next five years.
§ Mr. CousinsThe figures of expenditure by the N.R.D.C. are as follows for the year starting 1st July:
| 1961 | … | … | £731,000 |
| 1962 | … | … | £286,000 |
| 1963 | … | … | £271,000 |
| 1964 | … | … | £287,000 |
| 9 months | |||
| from 1.7.65 | … | £603,000 |
§ Estimates are now related to financial years. The figure for 1965–66 is £1,053,000.
Dr. BennettWhile the early support gave this valuable project a lot of acceleration, is it not a fact that the support has not been good enough to keep the momentum of the project going as it should have been? Is it not unfortunate that the support should have been chiselled down as it has been?
§ Mr. CousinsI am sure that the hon. Gentleman did not listen carefully to the figures which I gave, because I quoted those for 1961 to 1964 which showed that there had been a fairly substantial decline, but since then we have increased the tempo, because we are very conscious of the approaches made by Hovercraft which said that it was not getting sufficient money.
§ Mr. Hector HughesCan my right hon. Friend say how far this great expenditure has been successful in making Hovercraft sufficiently seaworthy to cross not only the English Channel, but the North Sea?
§ Mr. CousinsIn the Ministry we have made it clear that we regard Hovercraft development as very important. We know that the new company which has been created will accelerate developments and we are helping as much as we can in that direction.
§ Mr. LubbockDo the amounts of money which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned cover other applications of the air cushion principle as well as Hovercraft themselves? For example, do they cover Hovertrains? Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these amounts are yet sufficient for us to maintain our world lead?
§ Mr. CousinsThe figures do not include applications of other forms of air cushion travel, because the Question was specifically directed to Hovercraft. However, we are conscious of the need for developing these other forms, but the hon. Gentleman will realise that there was some argument in the House about whether this was a form of travel which could be expected to develop more than other forms of traffic movement.
§ Mr. David PriceHow soon will the Defence Departments have finished their proving tests of possible uses of Hovercraft in defence, and how soon will Hovercraft know whether it is to get production orders?
§ Mr. CousinsQuestions relating to defence should be addressed to the appropriate Minister.
20. Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Technology what money he expects to receive from the sale of patent rights or 1409 licences for the manufacture of Hovercraft abroad.
§ Mr. ShoreNone, Sir. Income from agreements to license the manufacturers of Hovercraft abroad accrues to Hovercraft Development Ltd., a subsidiary of the N.R.D.C. But no estimate of future income can yet be made. [Interruption.]
Dr. BennettWhile the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has just entered the Chamber, will need all the luck he can get, has not the Government failed to support Hovercraft Limited in getting these licences for reasonable sums of money?
§ Mr. ShoreI do not know how the hon. Gentleman could have drawn that inference from my Answer. The problem of getting other nations themselves to manufacture Hovercraft under British licence is very much a question of the developments going on in those other countries, but obviously we have an interest and we are giving as much encouragement as we can.
Mr. Gresham CookeCan the Minister forecast whether the passenger heating will be turned on in Hovercraft during the summer season as on British Railways?