HC Deb 22 June 1966 vol 730 cc574-5
46. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress was made during his recent meeting with the French Minister of Defence towards developing the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft; and what difficulties remain to be overcome.

Mr. Healey

We noted that considerable progress had been made on the military requirement and arranged for this to be further examined so that the technical and industrial factors could be fully evaluated before we launch the next stage of the project. This examination is now in hand.

Mr. Rankin

While that news is welcome, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that there is some concern about what appears to be slow progress in getting the Anglo-French v.g. aircraft under way? Will he assure us that there is no chance of it being supplanted by a smaller version of the American F111?

Mr. Healey

I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurance for which he asked in the latter part of his supplementary question. I am aware that people are worried about the pace of progress in this matter, but—and I know that he will agree with this—the French Defence Minister and I are convinced that we must produce a worth-while aircraft at a cost which we can afford and which gives some chance of selling it to other countries. This is one of the reasons why we are examining the matter so carefully at this stage. If other projects had been equally carefully examined by previous Governments, we could have saved the taxpayer a great deal of money.

Mr. Hugh Fraser

Surely the right hon. Gentleman will agree, if he has done his homework on the matter, that there is not even an operational requirement for this aircraft at the moment?

Mr. Healey

That is totally untrue, and the right hon. Gentleman would have known that if he had attended our debates and remained alert, as I hope he often is. He will know very well that we have a real requirement for this aircraft to supplement the V-bombers in the strike rôle when the V-bombers phase out in the middle 1970s. One respect in which we have made progress on this matter in the last few months is that we now agree with the French on the operational requirement and on the time scale.

Mr. Powell

Does not the fact that the French Government are proceeding with their own variable geometry aircraft indicate that they have a well-founded doubt as to the seriousness with which the British Government are approaching this matter—well founded in the light of their experience with Concord and E.L.D.O.?

Mr. Healey

No, Sir.