§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an assurance that the recent announcement to the effect that the Royal Air Force have ordered certain civil aircraft of the Flamingo type from the De Havilland Company will not affect the export of this type of aircraft for civil purposes?
Captain BalfourI have no reason to think that the order for Flamingo aircraft for the Royal Air Force will have an adverse effect on the export of this type of aircraft for civil purposes, but rather that it should have the effect of facilitating sales at home and abroad for commercial purposes, and enabling the makers to spread design, development and other overhead charges over a larger number of aircraft with consequent reduction of price. I would add that it should have the effect of giving prospective purchasers an assurance of the appreciation my Department have for this type of aircraft.