§ 1. Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the progress and costs of the multi-rôle combat aircraft programme.
§ The Minister of State for Defence (Mr. Ian Gilmour)I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement during the defence debate on 15th March.—[Vol. 852, c. 1510–11.]
§ Mr. WigginWill my hon. Friend say a little more about the difference in exchange rates? Will he say what effect these alterations will have on the ultimate cost of the aircraft and, perhaps more important, whether they will have any effect on the balance between the manufacturing capacities of the various countries and the numbers taken up?
§ Mr. GilmourI am afraid that I cannot tell my hon. Friend any more than my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force told the House last Thursday. This is an extremely complicated matter which will take a great deal of working out. It will not be clear until the next review point at the end of the year.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonHas the aircraft passed the scrutiny of the NATO MRCA Management Committee and, if so, has any decision been taken about production investment?
§ Mr. GilmourIt has met the requirements of all the Chiefs of Staff of the countries participating, and the decisions on production investment will be taken at the next review stage.