§ Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will explain why the Royal Air Force aeroplanes used on the flight from Cairo to Kano, Nigeria, to show the British flag, were fitted with American engines, and whether no machines fitted with the latest British engine were available for this flight?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe flight referred to was intended as a training exercise on an extended scale for a detachment of a squadron normally stationed at Cairo, using the ordinary service equipment of the squadron. The object would not have been met if a, specially equipped squadron had been sent out for the flight, and greater expense would have been involved. I may add that the present use of Liberty engines in service squadrons is due to the existence of large war stocks of such engines, which are still being utilised in the interests of economy.
§ Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give an assurance to the House that in the Cape to Cairo flight, which it is understood will be undertaken next spring, only British machines and British engines will be used; and whether he will see that the Air Ministry do not give large air contracts to foreign countries when they can be placed at home, and that the foreign orders are confined to experimental machines, engines, and sustenants only?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am glad to be able to give my hon. and gallant Friend an assurance that British engines and machines will be used in the forthcoming flight from Cairo to the Cape by the Royal Air Force. As regards the second part, it is the general policy of the Air Ministry to obtain their requirements from British sources, wherever possible, and this policy is only departed from for experimental purposes. The Ministry must naturally reserve to themselves the power to profit by any aeronautical advance, even if a purchase from a foreign country is thereby rendered necessary, but in such cases it is my intention to ensure that further production shall be carried out in British territory.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Air whether an order has been 393W placed by the Government with American firms for the supply of aeroplane engines; whether this type is different from any which can be obtained in Britain; whether any British firm was asked to tender; whether there was any difference in the price; and, if so, by how much was the British firm lower or higher than the American firms?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe facts of this case are as follows: An experimental order has been placed for certain aircraft complete with engines with a British firm who elaborated the design of the machines on the basis of incorporating certain features dependent on the use of an American engine, differing in certain respects from the standards laid down for British engines. The order necessitated the purchase from this British firm of a certain number of American engines. No direct order was placed by the Air Ministry with an American firm, and as no other type of engine was suitable for the aircraft, the question of comparative prices does not arise.