§ 24. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Technology what studies he has made of the likely expansion of air freight traffic; and what encouragement he will give to the British aviation industry to compete in this field.
§ Mr. DellThe forward projections of air freight traffic indicate a rapid increase and I shall welcome proposals from the industry designed to secure its proper share of the business that will be gerated by it.
§ Mr. HastingsIs it not a fact that in the last three years this traffic has increased by no less than 20, 27 and 18 406 per cent., respectively? Is not this very good business indeed? Does the Minister's statement indicate that he is prepared to support a project for an air freight aircraft, which we would have had if the Government had not cancelled the Hawker Siddeley 681?
§ Mr. DellIt is certainly true that air freight has been increasingly rapidly over recent years, but the Government's primary rôle in this matter is to give launching aids to promising civil developments. No proposal has recently been received from the industry for Government assistance in launching a new civil freight aircraft.