Mr. Laceasked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the complex transactions between the Receivers of Handley Page Limited, and Handley Page Aircraft Limited, the Craven Corporation, the Mercantile Trust Company of St. Louis and other concerns, if he is satisfied that there is a clear and inalienable title to the design and manufacturing rights to the Jet stream; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourScottish Aviation Limited has satisfied the Department of its ability to fulfil its contractual obligations.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of State for Defence why those tendering for the new jet trainer for the Royal Air Force were informed that an unrestricted British or American certificate of airworthiness was essential while at the same time the decision to buy the Jetstream was announced officially before the model to be ordered had received such a certificate.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourTenderers were informed that each aircraft should be delivered with an unrestricted certificate of airworthiness. The Jetstream was chosen with every confidence that this condition would be met.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of State for Defence what estimate he made of the effect of purchasing the NAR690 on offset purchases in the United Kingdom employment in the United Kingdom and the balance of payments, before ordering the Jetstream.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourBefore the Jetstream was selected, all relevant factors were considered, including the North American Rockwell Corporation's proposals to use its best endeavours to provide offset purchases in the event of the NAR690 being chosen.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of State for Defence what are the officially approved hours before overhaul for the 28W Astazou XVI engines in the Jetstream and the Garrett TPE331, respectively.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe number of hours before overhaul of a military aircraft engine is determined in the light of experience in service. There are, there-for, no officially approved figures for either the Astazou XVI or the Garrett TPE331 engines in the multi-engine pilot training rôle.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of State for Defence whether the decision to order the Jetstream aircraft involves the purchasing of secondhand Jetstream from Canada or the United States of America.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThree existing Jetstream aircraft will be included in those supplied to the Royal Air Force: two of these have been obtained from the USA. They had not been used since initial delivery and will be modified and refurbished as necessary to bring them up to the required standard.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the required delivery date for the Jetstream aircraft.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourDelivery of Jetstream aircraft to the RAF will commence in 1973.