§ 27. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Minister of Technology what progress the British Aircraft Corporation design team have made on the variable geometry aircraft; and what consideration they are giving the swing wing principle for civil aircraft.
§ 15. Mr. Monroasked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made with plans for an all-British swing-wing aircraft.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe B.A.C. project study for a military V.G. aircraft has recently been extended to enable the design team to study variations in costs, complexity and timescale which might interest other countries with a similar requirement. We have no plans at present for developing a civil aircraft with a swing wing.
§ Mr. AtkinsIs my hon. Friend aware how much the British aircraft industry and a wide range of ancillary industries are dependent upon firm orders for new planes on a ten-year programme, and that, without this industry, we would become entirely dependent on the United States?
§ Mr. StonehouseWe are very anxious to build up a European collaborative programme for military aircraft such as we are; building up for civil aircraft.
§ Mr. LubbockDoes the hon. Gentleman's Reply mean that the Germans were not interested in the B.A.C. design study in its original form and that it is having to be modified to suit them? Will the hon. Gentleman ensure that, if humanly possible, the Germans are brought into collaboration with us on this project?
§ Mr. StonehouseYes, we are doing all we can to interest the Germans and the Italians in coming in with us on a joint programme to develop an aircraft which will meet their requirements as well as ours.