HC Deb 30 November 1966 vol 737 c438
21. Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has accepted the recommendation of the Plowden Committee that the development of promising components and techniques should not be ruled out solely on the grounds that the system into which they would fit has not yet been approved.

Mr. Snow

As my right hon. Friend stated on 1st February in the debate on the Plowden Committee Report, this is already the Government's policy.

Mr. Hastings

Will the Minister accept that there is not as yet in the industry very much sign of this? There is a clear difference between the weapons system approach and an approach based upon promising components, which is what the Plowden Committee recommended? Do we understand that this is now Government policy?

Mr. Snow

Yes. Anticipation of complete operational requirements is already the subject of various projects which are in train—for instance, the RB162 lift engine and, in addition, the advanced lift engine which is being examined jointly with the United States Government.