Multi-Rôle Combat Aircraft

HC Deb 04 March 1970 vol 797 cc387-8

7. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at what stages of its development he proposes to inform the House of the research and development costs of the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

Mr. John Morris

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Booth) on 3rd December, 1969.—[Vol. 792, c. 1459–61.]

Mr. Allaun

Does not that mean that the House will not be informed until it is too late to influence the decision? Has not a director of Panavia stated recently that the cost will be £2,110 million?

Mr. Morris

As regards the second part of the question, it is one thing for the managing director to give his own unofficial ideas about costs and other matters. It is another for me to endorse them. It should be remembered that in early December the project definition phase was far from over. The costs, numbers and performance are among those matters which the project definition phase is designed to determine.