§ 2.26 p.m.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy 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 can now announce decisions on types of future commercial aircraft to be allowed to British European Airways and in particular the position of the projected BAC 2–11 design desired by the Corporation as a fleet replacement type.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave last week to the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull. The issues involved are complex, 382 but it is intended to make a statement as soon as possible.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHYREMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he could define a little more closely what "as soon as possible" means?—because every week the decision is delayed prejudices Britain's competitive power in the future in civil aviation.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I quite agree that there is an element of urgency about this matter. I should certainly hope that a decision will be taken this month.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the Government could expect any commercial undertaking to tolerate 12 months of indecision and still make a profit at the end of it?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I am not quite sure what the noble Lord is getting at. If he reads the Answer that I gave last week he will see that there are many aspects of this matter, some of which have changed in the last few weeks.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, I fully appreciate that; but this has been going on for 12 months. Is it not high time that a decision was taken?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, it is high time that there should be a decision. But it is also important that it should be the correct decision.