§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Technology whether the report by Professor Williams of Southampton University, sponsored by his Department, about possible vertical take-off and landing sites in British cities has now been received; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Carmichael:Yes. The report will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and the House of Commons today. This is a research study and should be regarded as no more than a working document. It deals, in two volumes, with the pattern of business traffic in the United Kingdom and the merits of potential sites in several major cities for operations with vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Both studies will be helpful in forming a judgment on the desirability of a project, but many other studies remain to be done before a decision can be taken. Development of this system of civil air transport would also of necessity take a number of years.
The views expressed about sites and localities in the report are those of Professor Williams; they do not commit the Government in any way, nor do they signify that all or any of the sites will be used for vertical take-off and landing 150W operations. No action will be taken by the Government in this matter without the fullest consultation with all the interests concerned.