HC Deb 19 February 1969 vol 778 cc440-1
3. Mr. Robert L. Howarth

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about negotiations for the building of the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

21. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about the Anglo-German multi-rôle combat aircraft.

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

The major results of the feasibility study were presented by the firms at the beginning of this month. They are now being evaluated and discussed.

Mr. Howarth

Has there been agreement on the number of engines the aircraft should have and on whether it should have variable geometry?

Mr. Healey

It has been agreed that the aircraft should have variable geometry. There is still some discussion about the number of engines and their origin.

Mr. Goodhew

Does this mean that the R.A.F. is at last to have a long range all-weather low-level strike capability? Or is this aircraft, like the AFVG, the TSR2 and the F111, likely quietly to disappear after the defence debate?

Mr. Healey

In so far as that supplementary question was intended seriously, my reply is that if the Governments agree to proceed with this project and it reaches an advanced stage in the next year or two, we can be confident that the Royal Air Force will have a large number of these aircraft in the 1970s.

Mr. Rippon

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the differences of opinion about design do not amount to various countries putting forward entirely different operational requirements? Can he also give an assurance that if agreement cannot be reached—although we hope it can—we will be prepared, if necessary, to produce this aircraft ourselves?

Mr. Healey

It is well known that this is to be a multi-rôle aircraft, like the Jaguar, which is very successful and is being produced by Britain and France together, for five separate rôles—three French and two British. There are differing requirements among the countries participating in this project, but feasibility studies show that their requirements can be obtained in a aircraft of 80 per cent. commonality, particularly as regards airframe and engines. The right hon. Gentleman's final supplementary question is hypothetical, and no wise politician ever answers a hypothetical question.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Is the estimate of £2,000 million roughly correct? Are not such estimates nearly always exceeded? Is it not nonsense for us in our present economic situation to be considering such expenditure?

Mr. Healey

We must consider any expenditure necessary to guarantee our peace and security and to make our proper contribution to the alliance. I can give no authority to any of the widely differing estimates of cost that I have seen in the Press.