HC Deb 21 November 1969 vol 791 cc391-3W
Mr. Moonman

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made for the certification of hovercraft.

Mr. Mason

We consider that the interests of the industry and of the

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Thirty-seven aircraft. The numbers in each year are given below.

N.206 Series I Series II Totals
1965 5 1— 6
1966 3 17— 20
1967 — 6— 6
1968 — 4— 4
1969(to 30th September) — 1— 1
8 29 37

Captain Kerby

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many mandatory modifications have been issued by the Air Registration Board in respect of the Beagle 121, Series I and II, production aircraft; and if he will list them in detail.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Eight modifications specific to Beagle 121, Series I and II aircraft have been made mandatory by the Air Registration Board. These are listed in detail below:

public would best be served by the delegation of functions relating to the design, construction and maintenance of hovercraft to an independent authority as soon as the state of the industry justifies it. We propose therefore to appoint, after consultation with the industry, a committee on which the Air Registration Board and Lloyd's Register of Shipping will be invited to serve and whose task will be to make recommendations regarding the constitution, terms of reference and financing of such an authority, and to pave the way for its establishment. In the meantime, we propose that the Air Registration Board should be appointed the interim certification authority and should be given the appropriate functions by Order in Council under the Hovercraft Act. 1968.