HC Deb 02 June 1965 vol 713 cc1695-7
8. Mr. McMaster

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct an inquiry into the efficiency of existing machinery for formulating British military aircraft requirements.

Mr. Healey

No, Sir. I see no necessity for such an inquiry.

Mr. McMaster

Is the Minister satisfied, following his cancellation of the TSR2 and the HS681, that the long-term planning is being properly looked after, bearing in mind that it takes more than five years between the formulation of a requirement and an aircraft coming into service?

Mr. Healey

Yes, Sir. I am very well satisfied. I am afraid that I was not so satisfied six months ago. One of the reasons why we made the agreement with the French Government for the production of two aircraft, one of which will not be available to the British Services for about 10 years, is that we are well aware of the long lead in time between the definition of a project and the production of the weapon concerned.

Mr. Soames

In formulating a military aircraft requirement, such as that with the French Government, will the Minister also consult the German Government? Has he consulted the German Government about the two aircraft ordered in conjunction with the French?

Mr. Healey

I had long talks with Herr von Hassel on the question of consultation with the German Government two months ago, and I had further talks with him in Paris during the last two days. I made that clear to the House when I announced the terms of the understanding for an agreement on joint production with the French Government. It is the experience of all British Governments, and of all Governments in the world, that it is very difficult to reach an agreement on the characteristics of an aircraft between more than two Governments. It is appropriate after a certain stage, when a work statement can be produced, to consult other Governments on participating in development and production, and this we intend to do.

Mr. Lubbock

I apologise to the right hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) for a back-bencher muscling in on Question Time, but may I ask the Minister what rôle the present Government foresee for the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee and whether he will investigate with our European allies the possibility of widening the scope of the body so that it may act as a Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee for all the European countries with which we are associated in N.A.T.O.?

Mr. Healey

I should be grateful if the hon. Member would put down a question about the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee. I can assure him that we are in continuous consultation with all allied Governments about all items of equipment which may, even with adjustment, be held to meet a common need.