§ Mr. McKelveyasked the Secretary of State for Defence under which circumstances the contract for the replacement trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force recently awarded to Shorts is revokable.
§ Mr. ButlerThe contract contains various provisions under which it could be determined by the Ministry.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, subsequent to the receipt of Shorts' bid for the Royal Air Force air basic trainer on 14 March, any member of his Department requested Shorts to make a revised offer:
(2) whether he will state the rank and post held of the member of the Procurement Executive who telephoned British Aerospace on 13 March to inform it of the deadline date for tender for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force; to whom he spoke; and if the call was logged by his Department;
(3) why, on 15 March, the controller of aircraft of his Department's Procurement Executive requested a revised bid from British Aerospace for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force.
§ Mr. ButlerI shall reply shortly.