§ 14. Mr. Fortescueasked the Minister of Technologoy if he will make a statement on future co-operation with other European Governments in aircraft manufacture.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAs my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) on 29th January, various proposals for new aircraft projects are now under consideration.—[Vol. 776, c. 1310–11.]
§ Mr. FortescueWould the hon. Gentleman care to comment on the Minister of Technology's reported statement recently that future co-operation is likely to be company to company, rather than Government to Government, and would he agree that any co-operation which might lead to the loss of design leadership capability in this country might be disastrous?
§ Mr. MallalieuWe want to keep design leadership. All my right hon. Friend's statements are always admirable. International co-operation can take many forms—Government to Government or industry to industry.