§ 25. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be in a position to make a statement about Government support for an uprated version of the RB211 engine.
§ Mr. OnslowRolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. sent the Department earlier this month a proposal for Government funding of the launch cost of an uprated RB211, and will shortly be sending further supporting material. It will take us some time to give the proper consideration to this major proposal.
§ Mr. WhiteheadDoes the hon. Gentleman recollect the remarks of the former Minister for Aerospace to me on 29th February during an Adjournment debate initiated by my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell)? The Minister said that no serious time would be lost if the decision on the uprated engine were made at about the same time as Lockheed's proposals for an airframe. Is he aware that we have now had Lockheed's proposals for over a month? Is it not a fact that serious time will be lost unless this decision is made speedily?
§ Mr. OnslowI would not necessarily accept the implication of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary. I can tell him that at the most recent meeting with Mr. Haughton he accepted that the time-scale of our decision fits in with his requirements.
§ Mr. AdleyWhile recognising the importance of the RB211 and the Lockheed 10–11, may I ask my hon. Friend to assure the House that the A300B is not being neglected in all these discussions? Could he say something about the discussions that may have taken place or have yet to take place between Rolls-Royce and Aerospatiale on the possible fitting of the RB211 in the A300B?
§ Mr. OnslowI do not think that the A300B is being neglected, but it is for the airlines in the first instance to express an interest in the matter. I cannot answer my hon. Friend's second question offhand, but if he puts down a Question about it. I will certainly give him the information.
§ Mr. MillanCan the hon. Gentleman say what kind of prospective orders the 21 Government would need to feel reasonably assured about a stretched version of the TriStar before they were willing to fund the stretched version of the RB211?
§ Mr. OnslowThis is a matter for the Lockheed Corporation to satisfy us that it sees a market, and it would need to satisfy a number of other people as well. I cannot give any other information on that at the moment.