§ Mr. Roperasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards an agreement with Great Britain's partners in the MRCA project towards a decision on production arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersAgreement has now been reached between the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom on the production arrangements for MRCA. Memoranda of Understanding on production and the continuation of development have been signed today, and the international management agency (NAMMA) has been authorised to place contracts for production of the first batch of aircraft.
The total programme in the three countries will involve more than 500 firms and will provide employment, at peak, for some 70,000 people. The United Kingdom share will be about 35,000 jobs in all. The MRCA programme is, therefore, of great significance to the future of the aircraft industries in the three countries for the next 10 years.