§ Q1. Mr. Sheldonasked the Prime Minister if he will seek an official meeting with President Nixon to discuss the future of Rolls-Royce.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I have at present no plans for a further meeting with President Nixon.
§ Mr. SheldonI welcome reports today as to the future outcome of the RB211 discussions in the United States, and I do not wish to press the Prime Minister on the details of these negotiations, but can he at least say whether he is prepared to continue with the RB211 contract in the absence of guarantees as to the future of Lockheed?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, we consider it essential to have guarantees about the future of the aircraft if we are to go ahead with the engine.
§ Mr. RostWill my right hon. Friend resist the temptation to visit some of the obscure places which hon. Members opposite are always trying to persuade him to visit and so find time to come to Derbyshire, where he will see for himself the rousing welcome which he will receive from many thousands of my constituents who greatly appreciate the Government's efforts to rescue the RB211 project? Further, would it not be a most important boost to morale and the future of the project if we could now have an order from a British airline for the RB211 Tri-Star?
§ The Prime MinisterThe question of orders by B.E.A. or B.O.A.C. for the TriStar is a matter for their commercial judgment.
§ Mr. Harold WilsonWhile these difficult negotiations are going on, no hon. Member will wish to make matters more 941 difficult for the right hon. Gentleman by pressing him on the details of the negotiations, but, if the stories from America which we read in the Press are correct, the matter may be protracted for some further weeks because of a possible need to secure Congressional approval. So will the Prime Minister say whether the Government will be able to continue to finance the RB211 programme in this country while whatever American procedures are necessary are carried through?
§ The Prime MinisterI appreciate the attitude of Her Majesty's Opposition in this matter. We are pressing ahead with the negotiations as hard as possible, and while the negotiations go on we shall continue the work which is being done on the RB211.
§ Mr. ThorpeI do not wish to probe the present state of the existing negotiations, but, as the Government have said that a Federal guarantee is regarded by them as a vital condition, could the Prime Minister say who is currently negotiating in Washington on this issue and when we are likely to have a statement?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is impossible to say at the moment when a statement will be made. Secretary Connally told the Press, as was reported on Sunday, that he and the American Administration were monitoring the whole of these proceedings which are now going on. As regards the general negotiations, a further team from Rolls-Royce, accompanied by Members of the Ministry of Aviation Supply, are going to Burbank this week.