§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether arrangements have been made by Her Majesty's Government, the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited for the production and delivery of the Mark IV Comet, and what the performance and carrying capacity of this aircraft are expected to be.]
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, B.O.A.C. have ordered nineteen Comet IV's for delivery in 1958–60, and an announcement to this effect has already been made. The Comet IV has not yet flown and its performance, therefore, has to be established in practice. In this connection, I would refer the noble Lord to the reply by my noble friend in the Written Answer to the noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, in the OFFICIAL REPORT of March 29, 1955.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, what I think was not in the answer to the noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, and has not been given to-day, is what financial arrangements have been undertaken by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the Comet IV. That also is contained in my Question.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I do not see in the Question any particular reference to the financial arrangements. If 402 the noble Lord wants a specific answer about financial arrangements he should put down a separate Question.
§ LORD OGMOREReally, my Lords, I must protest on that score. Usually the connection of the Government with the aircraft industry is a financial one, and they cannot expect every "i" to be dotted and every "t" to be crossed in this way. One puts down a Question in general terms and one expects an answer.
LORD HAWKEI am afraid I cannot give the noble Lord an answer in more specific terms than I have given him to-day.