§ Mr. McMasterasked the Minister of Aviation if he will give details of the two cases in the past ten years when there were competitive tenders for the supply of aircraft, stating in each case the date on which the revised tender was submitted and the date on which the order was announced.
§ Mr. AmeryThe two cases in question were competition between the Handley Page Herald and the Hawker Siddeley Avro 748 in 1962 and that between the Hiller and Bell helicopters in 1964. The first case was discussed in some detail when my predecessor answered Questions on 5th March, 1962, and in the Adjournment debate on 4th April, 1962. I replied to Questions about the second60W case on the 18th March, 1964, and during the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 19th March, 1964, where the Avro 748 and the Herald were concerned the revised Handley Page offer was received on 25th April or some two months after the Government's decision had been taken and announced.
In the helicopter competition the revised Hiller offer was submitted on 28th February, 1964; the decision to order the Bell was announced in reply to Questions on 18th March, 1964.