§ 116. Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Supply when the helicopter project, still in its experimental stage at Hunting Percival Aircraft Limited, was first sanctioned by his Department; what stage has now been reached; the total cost to public funds to date of this venture; and what it is ultimately hoped to achieve by these helicopter experiments.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe contract for the construction of this research helicopter was placed by my Department at the end of 1951. The object is to explore the possibilities of a new form of helicopter propulsion. The experimental aircraft is virtually complete, and ground running is expected to start very shortly. Unless any unforeseen snag occurs during ground running, it should start flying soon afterwards. It is not the normal practice to make public details of the sums of money paid to individual firms.