HL Deb 09 February 1960 vol 220 cc1021-2

2.35 p.m.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords I beg leave 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 they have received any report of the recent demonstration in Salisbury, Rhodesia, of a new system of transport invented by Rhodesian engineers, and whether they consider that this system has any application in this country.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport has recently received some details about this demonstration and will make further inquiries about it.

LORD MILVERTON

My Lords, may I take this opportunity of asking a supplementary question, as to whether the attention of the Colonial Office has been drawn to this remarkable new invention? I understand that patents have been taken out all over the world and that it has very considerable financial backing. Is the Colonial Office aware that at next year's Central African Fair a working model is going to be on show and visitors will be able to see the merits of it. In any case, are Her Majesty's Government aware that it appears to merit their early attention and the attention of that Department?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, as the noble Lord knows, I am not in a position to speak offhand for the Colonial Office, but I have no doubt that all these matters will become clear in the further inquiries to which I referred.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Would his right honourable friend particularly have in mind the possibility of using this system for transport between London and London Airport and the linking of overspill areas with their mother cities?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, my noble friend might like to know that my right honourable friend the Minister has sent to Rhodesia details of his requirements for any such link, and no doubt there will be further information in due course.

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