§ 13. Mr. Monroasked the Minister of Aviation what recent changes there have been in the composition of the British element of the Anglo-French Committee of Officials supervising the award of contracts for the Concord project.
§ Mr. StonehouseSir James MacKay, formerly a Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, has left the committee on his transfer to the Home Office. Air Marshal Sir Christopher Hartley, Controller of Aircraft, and Mr. F. J. Doggett, a Deputy Secretary, both in the Ministry of Aviation, have joined the Committee.
§ Mr. MonroSurely continuity in this project was most important? Was it not a mistake to transfer this most important official from the Concord to prisons?
§ Mr. StonehouseI am satisfied that the work of this Committee is being efficiently and effectively conducted.
§ Mr. A. RoyleIs the Minister aware that the two gentlemen who have replaced Sir James MacKay are highly regarded and will carry out their task expeditiously and extremely well for this country?
§ Mr. StonehouseI am glad to have confirmation of my view from that side of the House.
§ 21. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a progress report on the Anglo-French Concord.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe development programme is proceeding well. The first prototype at Toulouse is now in an advanced state of construction, and the aircraft is expected to fly in the spring of 1968. The construction of the second prototype at Bristol is also well advanced and this aircraft is expected to fly in the autumn of 1968.
§ Mr. RankinThose who saw the aircraft recently can confirm all that my hon. Friend has said, and the greater the publicity that we can give to this achievement the better it will be for aviation in both countries. Can my hon. Friend say how many options are held just now for the purchase of this aircraft?
§ Mr. StonehouseThe number of options is growing day by day, and I will find out the exact figure and write to my hon. Friend. With regard to his first point, I am glad that he and other hon. Members have had an opportunity of seeing the work for themselves.
§ Sir Ian Orr-EwingWill the Minister be a little more forthcoming than he was in reply to the Question on the Concord and say—if he rejects nationalisation, which we would endorse—how he will help to finance the production and provision of spares and components for an aircraft of this cost?
§ Mr. StonehouseThese questions are under current and continuous examination.
§ Mr. DobsonIs my hon. Friend aware that under that contract major decisions will have to be made by this Government and by the French Government about the 486 production needs for the aircraft? May I ask him to make sure that he has this well in mind?
§ Mr. StonehouseWe have this very much in mind.
§ Mr. A. RoyleWill the Minister be a little more forthcoming and tell the House when he intends to set down a production order, and will he give the lie to the stories circulating that the Government are having second thoughts about backing the Concord programme, and give firm confirmation that the Government will support the building of the Concord right through to the production orders?
§ Mr. StonehouseAs I have said, these important and complex questions are under current examination.
§ Mr. R. CarrThis is a very serious statement by the Minister. May I ask him once again whether he will make an early statement to the House, because I do not think that the House and the country ought to be kept in a state of doubt for another six or seven weeks?
§ Mr. StonehouseThere is no question of any state of doubt. The Concord programme is proceeding very well, and there is no question of any lack of decision on our side holding up this development work. There is no question of that at all. With regard to production financing, no decision on our side will in any way impede the progress of the development of this aircraft.
§ Mr. A. RoyleIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.