HC Deb 02 July 1974 vol 876 cc186-7
1. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the revised date for the first test flight of the MRCA.

9. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the MRCA project.

18. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the MRCA project.

The Minister of State for Defence (Mr. William Rodgers)

The first flight of the MRCA has been delayed but we expect that it will take place within the next few weeks. As I said on 9th April, we are reviewing all aspects of the project before authorising the next phase of development.

Mr. Whitehead

In carrying out that review, will my hon. Friend take the opportunity to make perfectly clear that Her Majesty's Government would not tolerate the moves which appear to be contemplated by the German Government of seeking an alternative engine for the aircraft? It has been suggested that the General Electric YJ101 turbojet might be put into the aeroplane instead of the RB119—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is a statement, not a question.

Mr. Whitehead

I was coming on to a question, Mr. Speaker. Will my hon. Friend take this opportunity of saying that Her Majesty's Government would not accept that kind of change in the MRCA project?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend should not be too worried about speculations of that kind, which are familiar at this stage of any important project. I certainly give him the undertaking for which he has asked.

Mr. Cryer

Does my hon. Friend accept that the development costs of the aircraft between 1969 and 1972 increased by 150 per cent.? Does he agree that 380 of these aircraft would cost £1,400 million? Will; he give the House a firm assurance that he is reviewing this matter with a view to cutting the project and resisting the brass hats in the Civil Service and the right wing members of the Tory Party who are still pursuing daydreams of the cold war?

Mr. Rodgers

I am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but I must answer "No" to all three questions. I can reassure him that the figures he has mentioned are not familiar to me and that any increase in costs during the period has been due far more to inflation and changes in exchange rates than to any other factors. Of course we must look at the project carefully, and I have given a clear undertaking to do so, but in the proper spirit in which we shall look at all projects in the defence programme.

Mr. Wiggin

Is not the estimated cost of the aircraft currently running closer to the original estimate than was the case in any previous project of this kind? Barring inflation, is not the increased cost well under 5 per cent. of the original estimate?

Mr. Rodgers

I agree with the general comment of the hon. Gentleman but would not wish to be committed to his specific figure.

Mr. Huckfield

Is my hon. Friend aware that rapidly looming up is another TSR2-type decision, which was not a fortunate one for the last Labour Government? Will he bear in mind that a great deal of concern is still felt about the outcome of that last decision, and will he undertake that the scrutiny of the project, particularly with regard to the possible installation of an alternative engine, will be more thorough than it was on the previous occasion?

Mr. Rodgers

I do not accept the parallel, but to my hon. Friend's question the answer is "Yes".

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