§ Mr. Straussasked the Minister of Aviation how much was paid by Her Majesty's Government and the two Air Corporations to aircraft firms in the last financial year for research and development; and how much was repaid by such firms on sales of products resulting from development contracts.
§ Mr. SandysThe bulk of the research contracts placed by my Department with industry are in respect of military projects; and it would not be in accord with 87W established practise to disclose the expenditure involved. I am informed that no payments were made to aircraft firms for research and development by either of the Air Corporations in 1958–59.
During that year some £7½ million was paid to my Department in respect of commercial sales of aircraft developed with Government assistance.