HC Deb 15 February 1965 vol 706 cc821-2
8. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings he hopes to make on joint production and development projects with the United States of America.

Mr. Healey

We must await the outcome of current discussions with the United States authorities on this subject.

Mr. Ridsdale

Is there not provision in the agreement for preferential treatment for the next generation of planes, seeing that we are giving the Americans the "know-how" of our intended plane for the 'seventies, the P1154?

Mr. Healey

I think that the hon. Gentleman has his facts all wrong. We are not giving the Americans the know-how for the P1154.

Mr. Thorneycroft

In view of the importance of this subject and the fact that the Government are contemplating spending between £300 million and £400 million sterling over the exchanges, would the right hon. Gentleman consider again the possibility of setting out the facts and figures of this inevitably complicated subject in some form of White Paper, because to have to keep on reading despatches from the Department of Defense is not a very satisfactory way for any hon. Member to learn them?

Mr. Healey

I am afraid that I find myself bound in this matter by the precedent set and announced so often to the House by the right hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Thorneycroft), namely, that it is quite contrary to precedent and damaging to the security of the country to state the number of planes under order or to state their price.

Mr. Ridsdale

Is the Secretary of State being so unwise as to make no provision for the next generation of planes? We shall have no bargaining counter left unless we make that provision.

Mr. Healey

Of course, studies are already under way for planes to replace those now under order. I must point out to the hon. Gentleman that this is some advance on the record of the previous Government which were planning to give us this generation of planes five years late.