Aircraft (Public Expenditure) (Hansard, 21 November 1955)

§ 92. Mr. Fernyhough
asked the Minister of Supply if he is yet in a position to state what was the cost to public funds of the liability in respect of the Swift.

§ Mr. Maudling
No. It is still too soon to say what the cost to public funds will be.

§ 94. Viscount Hinchingbrooke
asked the Minister of Supply the expenditure to date from public funds on research and development of the vertical take-off aircraft.

§ Mr. Maudling
It would be contrary to the established practice, which is based on considerations of public interest, to disclose figures of expenditure on individual research or development projects.

§ 95. Mr. Fernyhough
asked the Minister of Supply the cost to public funds of the decision to cancel the orders for the development and production of the V.1000.

§ Mr. Maudling
The decision to cancel the V.1000 and order Britannias instead will in fact save public money as their cost, even when added to any expenditure incurred on the V.1000 will be substantially less than the estimated cost of

Type of aircraft (1) Nett development expenditure, cost of prototypes, etc. (2) Number of aircraft ordered (3) Date of ordering (4) Number of aircraft delivered (5) Number of aircraft still capable of flying, i.e. holding current certificate of airworthiness

Prototypes Others Prototypes Others

£

Shetland 1,000,000 2 10 1941 1 0 0

Apollo 1,250,000 2 0 1946 2 0 1

Brabazon 6,500,000 2 0 1945 1 0 0

Sandringham 120,000 4 15 1945 1 15 at least 1

Solent 100,000 0 18 1946 0 18 8

Tudor 650,000 4 101 1944–1948 4 35 at least 10

Hermes 1,300,000 4 25 1944–1947 2 25 at least 17

Air Horse 350,000 2 0 1947 2 0 0

V.1000 2,300,000^* 1 6 1953–1954 0 0 0

Princess 8,000,000^* 3 0 1946 1 0 1

Comet I 4,250,000^* 2 19 1947–1952 2 9 0

Comet II 2 37 1 0 1

Comet III 1 10 0 0 1

^* To date.

NOTE.—The Apollo, 5 Tudor IX' s (Ashtons) and 1 Hermes are flying under service control and have been included in column 5, although they do not hold a certificate of airworthiness.

80W
developing and completing 6 V.1000s for the Royal Air Force.

§ 96. Mr. Fernyhough
asked the Minister of Supply the cost to Government funds of work to date on the development and production of V.1000.

97. Air Commodore Harvey
asked the Minister of Supply the cost to date to public funds of the design and development of the V.1000 transport aircraft.

§ Mr. Maudling
About £2.3 million.

§ 100. Mr. Wigg
asked the Minister of Supply what amount of public money has been expended on the Short Shetland, the Armstrong Whitworth Apollo, the Bristol Brabazon, the Saunders-Roe Princess, the Short Sandringham, the Short Solent, the Avro Tudor, the Handley-Page Hermes, the de Havilland Comet, the Saunders-Roe Air Horse, and the Vickers 1000 aircraft; how many of each type were ordered; what were the dates on which orders were placed for each; how many of each type were delivered; how long they were in service with the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and how many of each type are still capable of flying.

§ Mr. Maudling
Following is the Answer:

Type of aircraft	(1) Nett development expenditure, cost of prototypes, etc.	(2) Number of aircraft ordered	(3) Date of ordering	(4) Number of aircraft delivered	(5) Number of aircraft still capable of flying, i.e. holding current certificate of airworthiness
Prototypes	Others	Prototypes	Others
	£
Shetland	1,000,000	2	10	1941	1	0	0
Apollo	1,250,000	2	0	1946	2	0	1
Brabazon	6,500,000	2	0	1945	1	0	0
Sandringham	120,000	4	15	1945	1	15	at least 1
Solent	100,000	0	18	1946	0	18	8
Tudor	650,000	4	101	1944–1948	4	35	at least 10
Hermes	1,300,000	4	25	1944–1947	2	25	at least 17
Air Horse	350,000	2	0	1947	2	0	0
V.1000	2,300,000^*	1	6	1953–1954	0	0	0
Princess	8,000,000^*	3	0	1946	1	0	1
Comet I	4,250,000^*	2	19	1947–1952	2	9	0
Comet II	2	37	1	0	1
Comet III	1	10	0	0	1
^* To date.
NOTE.—The Apollo, 5 Tudor IX' s (Ashtons) and 1 Hermes are flying under service control and have been included in column 5, although they do not hold a certificate of airworthiness.