HC Deb 12 February 1968 vol 758 cc940-1
30. Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Technology to what extent, in view of the cancellation of British orders for F111K aircraft, the project study for a British variable geometry aircraft is being accelerated.

41. Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made in connection with the proposal to manufacture an all-British strike aircraft based on the variable geometry principle.

Mr. Stonehouse

The British Aircraft Corporation is making good progress in its study of the operational and technical factors affecting the possible development of this aircraft.

Mr. Hastings

Will the Minister accept that this is a totally unsatisfactory Answer to the Question? Is he aware that unless we start to build before long on this design, which should meet European requirements overall, let alone other markets as well, we shall be bypassed, not only by the French but the Germans, who are not so timid as this Government?

Mr. Stonehouse

The hon. Gentleman has put his finger right on the point when he talks of building an aircraft to meet European demand. That is exactly what we want to do in this case, and a premature building of an aircraft now, to meet purely our own requirements, may not meet what we hope in the long run will be a wider European demand, that will make the aircraft far more successful in sales.

Mr. Edelman

In connection with this project, will my hon. Friend confirm that the Government have now repudiated the policy put forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he was Minister of Aviation. that Britain will henceforward never build a sophisticated military aircraft alone?

Mr. Stonehouse

Of course I am not prepared to do that.

Mr. Goodhew

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the F111K was to replace the TSR2, which was to replace the Canberra? What does he think the R.A.F. will be doing between now and the time when the Minister makes up his mind and gets such an advance strike and reconnaissance aircraft into production?

Mr. Stonehouse

As the hon. Gentleman knows this is a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. He is also aware that our commitments have been charged.