§ 34. Mr. Copeasked the Secretary of of State for Trade if he will specify the range of assumptions British Airways made about key factors in the profitability of Concorde in service.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)I am discussing with the British Airways Board what further information could be made available to the House about its estimates of the effect on its financial results of introducing Concorde services.
§ Mr. CopeI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he bear in mind that the Secretary of State for Industry has been encouraging people to criticise the figures he gave in his statement and that it is very difficult for us to do that unless we are given the information we need? Why, therefore, did not the Secretary of State for Trade answer the Question I put to him for Written Answer, which was designed to draw out these assumptions?
§ Mr. DavisMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade tabled a very long answer on the hon. Gentleman's problems. If he has any grumbles about matters relating to the Department of Industry, he is entitled to table further Questions to that Department.