§ 40. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Aviation what action he has taken, in the course of his negotiations for the purchase of Phantom and Hercules aircraft, to secure the adoption of British equipment, particularly wheels and brakes, for these aircraft.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWe are specifying British-designed equipment for these aircraft where we consider it advantageous to do so, but we must have regard in each case for the effects on costs and delivery times. British equipment which might well be satisfactory in itself may entail additional costs to prove it in the environment of the American aircraft and to adapt the aircraft to take it. I would prefer not to make statements about individual items while details of the configuration of these aircraft are still under discussion.
§ 41. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the high wastage rate in wheel and brake spares in the Hercules and Phantom aircraft to be supplied to the British services, and of the heavy dollar cost of such equipment, whether he will take steps to make arrangements to manufacture, to existing United States designs, such items of equipment and spares for these aircraft.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWe hope to meet our requirements for some items of United States design by manufacture in this country under licence. In considering the balance of advantage in individual 203W cases we shall take account of such factors as cost and the expected rate of consumption.