Mr. Wardasked the Minister of Supply (1) the number and cost of each type of civil aircraft on order by his Department; the intended recipient of each aircraft; whether these aircraft will be sold or hired to the recipient; and the purchase price or hire charge of each aircraft; (2) the number of each type of civil aircraft to be acquired by his Department; and how many of these will be sold or hired respectively to British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways Corporation and private operators in 1950–51.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussExcluding prototypes, my Department has ordered three Princess flying boats, which will be sold by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to the British Overseas Airways Corporation, and 40 Marathons, some of which will be purchased by the British European Airways Corporation. Acting as agent for the Corporations, my Department has ordered 25 Hermes and 14 Comets for the British Overseas Airways Corporation and 20 Ambassadors for the British European Airways Corporation. It would be contrary to established practice to disclose contract prices.
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Mr. Wardasked the Minister of Supply the number of each type of civil aircraft held by his Department which will be on hire to British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways Corporation and private operators respectively in 1950–51; and the initial cost and hire charge for each aircraft.
§ Mr. BeswickI have been asked to reply. The following aircraft will be on hire or hire purchase from my Department during all or part of the year 1950–51:
To British Overseas Airways Corporation-10 Solents; to British European Airways Corporation—nil; to private operators-10 Bristol Wayfarer/Freighters.
It would be contrary to established practice to disclose the individual costs or hire charges for these aircraft. The charges are based on the expected life of the aircraft.