HC Deb 20 January 1972 vol 829 cc648-9
12. Mr. Onslow

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on the allocation of aircraft repair work between industry and defence establishments.

Mr. Anthony Lambton

The allocation of aircraft repair work between industry and defence establishments is governed by considerations both of the importance to the aerospace industry of having defence aircraft repair work allocated to them and of the needs on operational grounds to preserve a viable repair capacity within the Services.

Normally, minor and major servicing of operational aircraft is carried out in Service units, while the more complex tasks, such as major refurbishing and reconditioning, are normally allocated to industry. Types of repair work which do not clearly fall into either category are allocated according to relevant operational, economic and other factors.

Mr. Onslow

Is my hon. Friend aware that that answer would look much less rosy if he took out of account the once-and-for-all conversion of Victor tankers? It does not make much sense that the R.A.F. should hold on to major Service work in the current threat conditions of a very short war rather than a long one. Will my hon. Friend take note of the lesson of French experience that the greater the transfer to industry, the greater the advantage to the air force, to industry and to the sales prospects for French aircraft overseas?

Mr. Lambton

I hope that there will be a rising trend in the amount of airframe repair work that goes to industry.

Mr. John

Will the hon. Gentleman now clarify the effect on the situation he described of the allocation of Buccaneer servicing facilities to Belfast instead of to R.A.F. St. Athan?

Mr. Lambton

I do not think that that will disturb the balance.

Mr. John Morris

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the general bias in favour of development areas in defence contracting is continuing and that where a firm originally fails to win the whole initial order it is still the practice to allow it to have a second bite at the cherry for part of the order provided that the total cost is not increased?

Mr. Lambton

That is a rather different question, but I shall bear that point very much in mind.