§ 4. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many jet trainers to be produced jointly by the French and British industries will be ordered by the Royal Air Force.
§ Mr. HealeyIt is much too early to take a decision of this kind.
§ Mr. HastingsIs it not likely that the Royal Air Force will be able to place only a token order for this machine and that it really fulfils a French need rather than a British need? Can he explain whether that is so? If it is, can he hold out some hope of a British project of 1551 the same kind being given to the aviation industry before long, because if not it is doubtful whether the industry will be able to meet our defence needs in the 1970s.
§ Mr. HealeyThe hon. Gentleman's logic rather baffles me, but I assure him that I expect a need for a very sizeable number of these aircraft as advanced trainers for the R.A.F. If we had not expected such a need we would not have made the agreement.
§ Sir J. EdenWill the Secretary of State confirm that the Minister of Aviation has worked out manufacturing arrangements for this aircraft and that it is his intention that the Jaguar shall have, if possible, considerable export sale?
§ Mr. HealeyMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation is negotiating all the details to implement the Memorandum of Understanding that we made some weeks ago. It is certainly the intention of both the British and the French Governments that sales of this aircraft should be as wide as possible.