§ Mr. Powellasked the Minister of Technology, whether any portions of the TSR2 have been disposed of, otherwise than as scrap; and whether any have been so disposed of to the United States.
§ Mr. BennIn terms of weight of metal the bulk of the TSR2 manufacture has been disposed of as scrap, but there are some important exceptions.
Of the first five prototype aircraft, three have now been allotted to Government establishments for ground research purposes and one each of the other two to Cranfield College of Aeronautics and Henlow Aeronautics Museum. The engines and some major aircraft structures are reserved for other research work. The more important equipments designed specially for the TSR2 have, in most cases, been used in Ministry establishments in aid of general development work or have been transferred to other aircraft projects. In addition, but on a lesser scale, we have either sold or given equipment to several educational bodies.
Raw material and components of general aircraft application have, of course, been absorbed into stocks held by Ministry of Technology establishments and Ministry of Defence units wherever practicable. The balance has been sold, generally through normal tender or auction arrangements.
As regards the second part of the Question, I am not aware of any such disposal.