HC Deb 05 May 1965 vol 711 cc1333-4
Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Aviation what further discussions he has planned with his French counterpart on further Anglo-French collaboration in the aircraft field.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I expect to have a further discussion with French Ministers in London on 17th May.

Mr. Hamilton

As the future of our aircraft industry depends increasingly on this kind of collaboration, can my right hon. Friend say when he will be able to tell the House of some concrete achievements in this field as the result of his discussions?

Mr. Jenkins

I hope to do so very soon after 17th May.

Mr. Lubbock

Is the purpose of the meeting with the French Ministers to sign an agreement on the strike trainer and the variable geometry aircraft? Has the right hon. Gentleman got as far as that yet?

Mr. Jenkins

The purpose is to pursue the discussions that we have been having—which have been going very well—at official level. I hope that after the meeting it will be possible to report real progress.