§ 18. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Aviation what engines will be installed in the SA330, SA340 and WG13 helicopters; and in which country the airframes will be built when orders are executed for French and British forces, respectively.
§ 19. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Aviation where the SA340 and the WG13 helicopters will be made.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe SA330 will have the French Turmo engine. The final definition of the engine for the other two helicopters will be made about the middle of the year when the design studies are completed. Each country will make parts of each helicopter and will have a final assembly line.
§ Mr. MartenCan the Minister say whether the engine for the SA330 is suitable for the Services? Can he give an assurance that it was not downgraded 490 for the requirements of the Services simply to get a package deal?
§ Mr. StonehouseMy information from the Ministry of Defence is that it meets its requirements extremely well.
§ Mr. RidleyIs it not wrong to have an assembly line for each type of helicopter in each country? Would not the Minister agree that it would be much better to have one main contract for each helicopter, and allow the work to be shared out equally by means of sub-contracting?
§ Mr. StonehouseThe production work will be shared so that we shall have efficiency in production lines, but I do not think that it will add appreciably to the cost if the final assembly is done either in Britain or in France according to where the aircraft is required.
§ Mr. HastingsIs not there a real danger that after the two French projects are completed the French Government may decide to pull out, or at least are empowered to pull out, before the Westland project comes forward?
§ Mr. StonehouseI discussed this with my right hon. Friend and with M. Messmer a fortnight ago, and I think that the risks are very small indeed.