HL Deb 29 October 1975 vol 365 cc494-6
The Earl of KINNOULL

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 proposals they have for the disposal of the prototype and pre-production Concorde aircraft and whether they will bear in mind the need to preserve what will be a historic aircraft.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord BESWICK)

My Lords, having considered all possibilities put to us, it is now our proposal to hand over the British-owned Concorde prototype 002 to the Science Museum. It will be placed on display adjacent to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton. We propose to offer pre-production aircraft 01 to the Duxford Aviation Society to be held by them, in association with the Cambridge County Council.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord the Minister of that reply, may I ask whether he would agree that the preservation of the prototype Concorde aircraft is important not only because of the present great public interest but because of the future interest of the public? Would he agree that it represents both the flame of British achievement in flight technology and also a symbol of national pride? Would the noble Lord further agree that it is important that the siting of these two Concorde aircraft should be made with the greatest possible accessibility for the public in mind? Can he say what criteria have been adopted by his Department in choosing the sites and what consultations have taken place?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, I absolutely agree with what the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, says, that these aircraft will take their place in the future as being quite historic achievements. It is essential that they should be preserved. The question of access was one of the criteria we applied. Access will be possible both in the case of the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton, where already they have aircraft on view, and at Duxford. Other criteria we had to consider were the possibility of landing the aircraft there and the possibility of maintenance.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, in view of the fact that it is such a wonder of the world, would the Government reconsider siting one of these aircraft at London Airport, thereby making it a great tourist attraction, for many years to come?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, that was one of the sites considered. There is a suitable runway there, but public access is difficult. Space is limited, and the British Airports Authority do not necessarily have the funds for maintenance.

Lord WIGG

My Lords, would my noble friend the Minister be good enough to ensure that when the aircraft is on show there is a tablet showing what were the original estimates of the cost and what the ultimate price was?

Lord BESWICK

Yes, my Lords; and on the same tablet we could say what the technological objectives were and how they were so splendidly achieved.

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, does the noble Lord the Minister realise that the statement he has made will give a great deal of satisfaction to all those concerned with the achievements which this aeroplane represents? Can he tell us whether these aircraft will ever fly again? Are they capable of flying? Shall we be able to see them fly again?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, they will not be capable of flying once they are sited there. They have fulfilled their part in the programme. We shall now turn to the operational aircraft that are flying.

The Earl of IDDESLEIGH

My Lords, on behalf of the West Country, I should like to thank the noble Lord the Minister for that undertaking, and I hope he will not change his mind.

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, I am obliged for what the noble Earl, Lord Iddesleigh, has said.

Lord IRONSIDE

My Lords, can the noble Lord the Minister say whether the French Government have similar plans for the display of their prototypes in France?

Lord BESWICK

Yes, my Lords: they have one at Le Bourget and one at Orly.