§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of Technology why design in development work relating to the conversion of Victor Two bombers to aerial tankers has been transferred from Handley Page to Hawker Siddeley without giving Short Brothers and Harland and other firms an opportunity to tender.
§ Mr. CarmichaelOn 27th February Handley Page Aircraft Ltd. told the Department that they were no longer able to fulfil their contracts for R.A.F. work. Urgent action was necessary and Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd. was asked to take over the contracts immediately. The choice of firm was determined by the 227W Government's long-standing policy of placing major airframe design work on either H.S.A. or the British Aviation Corporation, by H.S.A.'s understanding of this task, and by the likelihood of their being able to keep the Victor design team together. Tenders were not practicable in the circumstances.