HC Deb 10 February 1971 vol 811 cc510-2
19. Mr. Bishop

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what further progress has been made in the development of short take-off and landing and vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

9. Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what development of aero-engines specifically linked with civil short take-off and landing and vertical take-off and landing aircraft projects is at present being funded by his Department.

14. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what was the expenditure incurred by him in design studies and development of vertical take-off and landing and short take-off and landing aircraft and engines, respectively, and in total during 1970; and what is his estimate of expenditure in this field during the current year and succeeding years.

Mr. David Price

I take these Questions to apply to civil projects. No expenditure was incurred on design studies or development of V/STOL projects, but the Department continued to support exploratory work. Future expenditure will depend upon the results of the studies now nearing completion and the reappraisal which must follow the financial failure of Rolls-Royce Limited.

Mr. Bishop

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that more and more people are looking to a project of this kind for relief from air and surface traffic congestion, and can he assure us that work is going ahead on a number of problems, including air traffic congestion, noise and other social problems? Third, is he satisfied that the local authorities as well as the airport authorities are aware of the contribution which they can make in the advancement of these projects?

Mr. Price

I agree with a great deal of that. This is an important, though potentially expensive, development which could take many years. As the hon. Gentleman suggests, quite apart from the purely technical feasibility factors, we must be satisfied about the economics of the operation, about noise levels and about the potential market, as well as major planning considerations such as those to which he referred. This has been very much at the heart of the Southampton University exploratory studies.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Britain has the lead in this field. Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that nothing will be done to neglect the lead which we now have, realising that 15 years from now we could well get rid of concrete runways and use vertical take-off?

Mr. Price

My hon. Friend is right in saying that we are doing extremely well in the exploratory work, but I do not think it is right to say that we have a unique lead in what we are really looking for, which is a commercial civil aircraft. It it in the military field that we are so distinguished.

Mr. Rankin

Does the hon. Gentleman realise the importance which an aircraft of this type could have in the development of the Scottish Highlands, which are tending to lose their land transport—for instance, their railways—and will he pay attention to that aspect of it?

Mr. Price

I have great sympathy with any interest which the hon. Gentleman expresses in the Highlands, but I am not sure that everyone in the Highlands and the Highlands Tourist Board would think that filling the glens with vertical take-off aircraft would necessarily be in the interests of the environment and the aim of attracting more tourists to the Highlands.