§ 28. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what answer he has given to submissions by Hawker Siddeley Aviation for financial assistance to launch the HS146 airliner; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineI have the company's request under consideration and hope to make a decision shortly.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonMy hon. Friend must be aware that the company concerned is only asking the Government to match the money that it itself intends to put into the project. Is he aware of the industry's present extreme concern at having no new civil aircraft project on the stocks except Concorde? How can we keep up our export record without a project like HS146?
§ Mr. HeseltinePerhaps I may be allowed to pay tribute to the remarkable export record which the British aerospace industry has had in the past 12 months. I am fully aware of the points that my hon. Friend has put to me.