HC Deb 26 June 1967 vol 749 cc88-9

Mr. Enoch Powell (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet received the letter from the French Minister of Defence with reference to the Anglo-French variable geometry project, and whether he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)

I do not know what the right hon. Gentleman means by "the" letter, but since the statement that I made in the House last week I have received a letter from M. Messmer which I shall be discussing with him on Thursday, 29th June. Until this meeting has taken place I am not in a position to make any further statement.

Mr. Powell

First, was the right hon. Gentleman aware of the purport of that letter when he answered Questions in the House last Wednesday? Secondly, does he appreciate the urgency of giving some firmness to a project which hitherto entirely lacks it?

Mr. Healey

On the second question, of course, yes, Sir. On the first question, of course, no, Sir.

Mr. Rankin

Is it or is it not the case that the French are anxious to divorce themselves from the joint construction with Britain of the variable geometry aircraft?

Mr. Healey

As I was saying, I am not in a position to make any further statement on this matter until I have had an opportunity of discussing this question with M. Messmer.

Mr. Hastings

Will the right hon. Gentleman at least confirm the possibility of offering the French Government some farm of bridging finance for the development phase, if necessary, and if it comes to the worst and they wish to pull out, will he make certain that a British project takes its place?

Mr. Healey

On the first question, I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who I know is genuinely concerned, unlike perhaps some other hon. Members of the House, that the joint Anglo-French project should succeed. If there is any way in which we can help the French to meet the financial difficulties which they may find over the project, we shall certainly seek to do so.

Mr. Edelman

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the joint specification for the co-operative project has yet been established, and is he aware that it has been widely stated in France that the joint project will not come to fruition because the French want to put into production the Mirage HIG?

Mr. Healey

On the first question, I have already told the House that the French Minister of Defence and I have agreed in detail the specification for the project. I have no reason to believe that the specification or the project is not in accordance with the desires and interests of the French Government.