§ Mr. Raymond Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will examine, in conjunction with both the Metropolitan Police and other Police forces, the possible use of small helium-lifted airships as instruments of aerial traffic control, in view of the lower cost of building and maintaining airships as compared with helicopters;
(2) if he will give consideration to the possible use of small helium-lifted airships, one type of which is now under construction at Royal Air Force, Carding-ton, for use in those police operations which require the use of helicopters, in view of the lower cost of both constructing and maintaining airships as compared with helicopters.
§ Mr. SharplesAt the present stage of their development it seems unlikely that such airships would be more suitable than helicopters for any police purpose but my right hon. Friend will bear the possibility in mind.