HC Deb 18 May 1972 vol 837 cc676-8
22. Mr. Mackie

asked the Minister of State for Defence w what extent foreign guns are being fitted to British planes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

The Phantom Mark 2 is the only military aircraft at present in service which is fitted with a foreign gun. This gun has no British equivalent and had already been developed for the American Phantoms. The MRCA will be fitted with a German gun which is under development by Mauser.

Mr. Mackie

Assuming that the Minister has heard of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and remembering that in spite of today's good figures concerning unemployment we still have the highest unemployment that we have ever had in Enfield, would it not have been better to have had this gun produced in a British factory?

Mr. Gilmour

There was no suitable British gun available or under development. This decision was made in November or December, 1970, and the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the present Government could hardly have got a gun going in that time. There have not been any recent heavy redundancies at Enfield, there are none in contemplation and the future workload is very healthy. The hon. Gentleman probably knows that Enfield is doing some work-sharing with Mauser on the gun which is under development.

Mr. Winterton

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that he will endeavour to persuade the appropriate powers and authorities-that-be that to buy a higher percentage of British defence equipment and needs from British suppliers would further help the dramatic drop in unemployment in this country?

Mr. Gilmour

I think that the implication of my hon. Friend's question is mistaken. We already buy a high proportion of our equipment needs from Britain, and British industry has had a fair share of the equipment chosen for the MRCA.

Mr. Mackie

In view of the number of decisions of the previous Government which the present Government have undone, alteration of this decision would not be objected to at all.

Mr. Gilmour

Unfortunately, owing to the decisions or non-decision taken by the Government which the hon. Gentleman was proud to serve, we had no option in this matter.