HC Deb 20 October 1975 vol 898 cc15-6
14. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which civil aircraft projects are now being supported with public funds.

Mr. Varley

The Government are at present investing money in the Shorts SD 3–30, are supporting a small programme of work at HSA to ensure that the option of restarting the HS146 project is kept open and, jointly with the French Government, are financing the development and production of the Concorde supersonic aircraft.

Mr. Tebbit

As the launching aid given in respect of such programmes as the Viscount, the BAC111 and the Trident has been amply repaid in terms of investment, jobs and exports, is it not time for the Government to see their way through to at least indicating their options in relation to the Spinelli Report, which has positive proposals on what should be done by the Government in respect of the European industry?

Mr. Varley

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the Spinelli Report, as he calls it, has only just reached the Government. We are considering it urgently. We want to consider it fully to see whether it is practicable and whether we can support it.

Mr. Raphael Tuck

Has my right hon. Friend forgotten the HS146 and one of the best design teams in the world? Is he not rather regretful that the EEC did not include it in its programme? Will he do his best to ensure that the project does not die, and the design team with it?

Mr. Varley

As my hon. Friend knows—he has made this point on several occasions—the Government have made resources available so that the options on the project should be kept open.

Mr. Jessel

In the interests of British exports, in future will the Government channel public funds into only those civil aircraft projects which do not carry with them an unacceptable level of noise?

Mr. Varley

The question of noise is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, but if we had taken the severe view that the hon. Gentleman now takes, particularly about Concorde and other civil aviation projects, we probably would not have built any-civil aircraft since the Viscount.