HC Deb 02 July 1974 vol 876 cc195-6
7. Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to visit defence establishments in West Germany.

Mr. Mason

I hope to be able to do so before very long, but I have no immediate plans for a visit.

Mr. Rooker

When my right hon. Friend visits West Germany, will he have talks with his West German counterpart and find out why that gentleman has been able to give in West Germany figures, of the cost of the MRCA which we in this country have not been able to obtain?

Mr. Mason

I have been to Bonn and I have met my counterpart there, Mr. Leber, the West German Defence Minister. We discussed MRCA. The Germans are backing it just as strongly as we are. No figures have been officially released by the West German Government. There are lobbies operating in West Germany and I would ask my hon. Friend to treat figures with some reserve and caution.

Mr. Adley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reasons for not always divulging figures flow from the fact that he considers that such a course is best in the national interest? Might not this argument equally have applied some weeks ago to Concorde?

Mr. Mason

Concorde is a civil aviation aircraft for which I am not responsible. I have some responsibility for MRCA.

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