HL Deb 06 February 1968 vol 288 cc1044-6

2.40 p.m.

LORD ST. OSWALD

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 what justification, if any, there may be for the uncertainties alleged on January 6 regarding the Concorde aircraft; in particular regarding its length, wing span, take-off weight, operating speed and operating potential as calculated, and to comment on the forecast that it would meet the same fate as the R101 Airship.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, Concorde will be 193 ft. long, with a wing span of 84 ft. Its maximum design takeoff weight is 376,000 lb. Its maximum speed will be Mach 2.2 with a fatigue life bonus if this is reduced to just above Mach 2.0. As regards its operating costs, the 74 delivery positions reserved by 16 airlines are indicative of their expectation that it will be a commercial proposition. The suggestion on the B.B.C. programme of January 6 that the Concorde will meet the same fate as the R101 seems to me both irresponsible and in deplorable taste.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I think that form requires me to ask the noble Lord whether he is aware of the great satisfaction which his direct and unequivocal reply will have given both to me and to all those who admire this splendid Anglo-French project. He used the word "deplorable". Does he not think in a wider sense that it is intolerable that when facts are known, as they have been known, even to me, they are not investigated and that they are not inquired into by the B.B.C. for such a programme, and that the whole vernacular of comment on this very important project should be couched in terms more suitable for schoolboy slapstick? May I also ask him a specific question on a matter to which he did not refer? Is it true that the B.B.C. programme referred to the fuel trim of the Concorde aircraft as being similar to that used in two American aircraft which had crashed? Would the noble Lord comment on that?

LORD BESWICK

Yes, my Lords; it is true that the B.B.C. made a reference to this fuel trim system. The fact is that the Concorde uses a system which is not used in any American bomber. As for the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, I would add that I understand that the British Aircraft Corporation have protested to the B.B.C. about their statements on the "Eleventh Hour" programme, and the justification given by the B.B.C. is that because in the past there has been uncertainty about advanced technological projects, they were justified in allowing this kind of "sick" humour to take place.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, in view of the fact that public money is concerned in the construction of this aircraft, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Government, in one Department or another, have not thought it right to make a protest to the B.B.C. about such an irresponsible, harmful, damaging and, indeed, cruel inference as was contained in their programme?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, as I have said, the British Aircraft Corporation themselves have protested. The possibility of following up this protest by some representation from Her Majesty's Government will, I assure the noble Lord, be considered.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, could the noble Lord say when the first trial flight of the Concorde is to take place? Is it to be on February 25, or has it been delayed: and, if so, why?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, there has been a deferment, but the first flight in France will take place later in the spring.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, could my noble friend be a little more specific about representations by Her Majesty's Government to the B.B.C.? In these circumstances it seems important that the Government themselves should make these representations rather than leave it to the Company.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, as I have said already, I will certainly have this matter considered.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the B.B.C. were able to explain, if their object was to settle the supposed uncertainty regarding this aircraft, how they could help that uncertainty by deliberately adding to it?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I doubt whether I can give a satisfactory answer to that question, any more than I can satisfactorily answer the fact that so much British money given to the B.B.C. should be used for decrying British products.