Mr William Taylor: A group of companies, in association with and under the direction of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, are making a research study of possible supersonic civil air transport machines. Much preliminary theoretical work has been done, the main experimental work has been planned and certain research models are now being designed and manufactured. My right hon. Friend believes that...
Mr William Taylor: The latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is not part of the original Question he put down. No single aircraft company in this country has enough technical staff or the facilities to undertake the whole responsibility for research into a project of this size. The potential importance of this project is such that my right hon. Friend decided to proceed with a programme of...
Mr William Taylor: I must have notice of that question.
Mr William Taylor: To meet War Office requirements, a boot with a composition sole has been developed. Tests of this and of boots with leather soles are proceeding. A decision on the boot to be adopted for general service will be taken when tests have been completed.
Mr William Taylor: None, Sir.
Mr William Taylor: I can certainly assure the hon. Member of that.
Mr William Taylor: A mischievous speech.
Mr William Taylor: Agreement has been reached for the transfer of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Dalmuir to Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox on 1st January next. They wish to utilise the factory as fully as they can and, in the light of discussions that are in progress, I have every hope that they will need a high proportion of the labour force, as well as much of the machinery. Although the time has not yet come for...
Mr William Taylor: There are differences between the work at the Royal Ordnance Factory and the work of the firm, in consequence of which the pattern of their labour requirements will be somewhat different, and the balance between grades of employee may alter with the change from military work to civil work. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are making the very best efforts to ensure that the maximum number of...
Mr William Taylor: The payments which may be made to these employees on redundancy are governed by the Superannuation Acts, 1834–1957, which apply without discrimination to all Civil Servants, including the workpeople at Royal Ordnance factories. The provisions of these Acts are somewhat complicated, and I am sending the hon. Member a summary of them.
Mr William Taylor: The first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is related to a much bigger question, which, I think, will be dealt with in the debate later today. As to the second part of his supplementary question, with the declining military requirement and the reduced needs of defence generally and the Service Departments, the Ministry of Supply can keep factories going only to make goods...
Mr William Taylor: These textiles are mainly a residue of purchases made in the exceptional circumstances of the Korean re-armament, after consultation with the Service Departments concerned, to meet expected Service requirements. They consist mainly of cotton and woollen cloths, duck and canvas, narrow fabrics, and machine thread. The items are now surplus and are being offered for sale through the normal...
Mr William Taylor: As I have said, these purchases were made several years ago, and in the interim period there have been very much reduced requirements in the Services, with a consequent throwing up of these surpluses. As to our present policy, I can assure the hon. Member that we are trying to keep our demands exactly in line with what the Services will require.
Mr William Taylor: Three Comet I's were purchased as prototypes in aid of the development of the civil type, and eight in aid of the Ministry of Supply's research programme, the majority being for ground fatigue tests. Two Comet II's were purchased in aid of the development of the military version, one of them being for ground fatigue tests; thirteen Comet II's were purchased for the Royal Air Force. The...
Mr William Taylor: No, Sir. The House will recall that, after the inquiry into the Comet accident, it was found necessary to provide aircraft for very extensive and exhaustive tests in order that the aircraft could be re-proved for civil use. I do not accept the hon. Member's imputation that more aircraft were bought than were necessary. As for the rescue operation of the company concerned, that is fully...
Mr William Taylor: That is another question.
Mr William Taylor: The volume has about doubled, and my right hon. Friend is fully satisfied with the way this considerable task is being handled.
Mr William Taylor: In reply to the first part of that supplementary question, the arrangements on these matters were fully explained by the Prime Minister on 16th May, 1956, in paragraph 6 of the statement my right hon. Friend then made, which reads: Her Majesty's Government take the view that the arrangements for exchange of information in advance of public disposal should normally he limited to Government...
Mr William Taylor: I am aware that there are still considerable quantities of surplus stores to come forward for disposal, but my Department can only dispose of such surpluses as they are sent forward by the Service Departments concerned. In reply to the other point made by the right hon. Member, my right hon. Friend is satisfied with the present arrangements.
Mr William Taylor: As previously announced, Dalmuir is being let to Babcock and Wilcox, Limited, from 1st January, 1959. Poole and Maltby have been advertised for disposal and the resulting inquiries are now being dealt with, Wigan will be advertised shortly. The factories at Swynnerton, Thorp Arch and Irvine present difficult problems because of their size and nature. My right hon. Friend is not in a position...
