§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Technology if he is aware that the United States Government are likely to subsidise the design and development of a 90-ton hovercraft with six times the amount invested by the United Kingdom in all hovercraft research and development to date, and what action he is taking to safeguard Great Britain's lead and retain British designers in the face of growing world competition.
§ Mr. BennI read the Press reports describing some American plans for a 90-ton hovercraft. In this country a much larger hovercraft weighing 160 tons is actually in the final stage of manufacture and will be launched within a few months.