HC Deb 09 April 1974 vol 872 cc133-6
4. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a progress report on the multi-rôle combat aircraft in terms of its closeness to cost estimates and to its development programme.

5. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress made with developing the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

6. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

28. Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when a commitment has to be made in respect of multi-rôle combat aircraft production.

Mr. William Rodgers

The first prototype MRCA aircraft is undergoing final stages of ground testing prior to its first flight at Manching in Germany.

There has been some slippage in the programme but the cost of the current phase of development, measured at constant prices, is very close to the estimate made at the outset.

We are reviewing all aspects of the project with our German and Italian partners before authorising the next phase of development, which will cover the flight test programme and the continuation of development to the point where serious production orders can be placed. Production orders will not be placed before the second half of 1975.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

Will the Minister of State give me an assurance that, despite the proposed reductions in defence spending, there will be no cut in the RAF order for this crucial aeroplane which is so necessary to our defences?

Mr. Rodgers

The hon. Gentleman must know that I cannot give an assurance in the terms in which he requests it. It is right that every current project should have the same status in the course of the defence review. That does not mean that we do not appreciate the great importance attached to this aircraft.

Mr. Allaun

Was not the original estimate of the cost £1½ million per aircraft, and has not the cost already escalated to £9 million per plane, according to our West German colleagues, without a single plane yet being in the air? As Parliament and the people are entitled to know, will my hon. Friend state what he thinks is the latest estimate for this enormously expensive aircraft which will make Concorde, which some people describe as a white elephant, look like a veritable mouse?

Mr. Rodgers

I understand what my hon. Friend says about the escalation of costs, which for many years I have been concerned with as something which appears to be a habit when aircraft projects are involved. I can only say, on the best evidence available to me, that there is better cost control on this occasion than there has been on some other occasions. I will certainly see whether additional information can be published. As my hon. Friend knows, it has not been the custom in the past to give detailed information of this kind, although I have always taken the view that in principle, if there are no security considerations, disclosure followed by scrutiny is the best defence of the public purse.

Mr. Warren

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the research and development cost and work-sharing no longer reflect the production orders which are required by the Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force and the German Air Force? In the period up to the time when he places production orders in 1975, will he consider the desirability of getting the work-sharing back on to a basis equivalent to that of the RAF order, which is the major order of the three countries concerned?

Mr. Rodgers

A complicated formula is involved, but I will certainly give the hon. Gentleman an undertaking to look at his precise point.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Does my hon. Friend agree that, in order to compete with America and, indeed, even to survive, the British aircraft industry must have long production runs like the MRCA? Does he also agree that it is useless for hon. Members to ask for an independent foreign and defence policy if we have to rely on America for military aircraft?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend puts his finger on several real and related problems concerning the defence programme and employment—for example, the need, if possible, to have aircraft and other equipment in conjunction with our allies of the kind that the forces require. Nevertheless, as I say, all these matters must be taken into account in deciding how these projects should proceed.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Does not the Minister agree that this project is of the utmost importance not only to the British aircraft industry but also to the prospects of weapon collaboration in Europe? In view of the well-known and expensive predilection of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for buying American aircraft, will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will do everything within his power to resist any such pressures from the Treasury?

Mr. Rodgers

It is the rôle of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, as I hope of every other Chancellor, to make sure that public money is well spent. Obviously this must be related to the requirements of the Ministry of Defence and the Services.

Mr. Allaun

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.