HC Deb 15 July 1986 vol 101 c846
17. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations his Department has received from British Aerospace in respect of the Nimrod AEW Mk. III.

Mr. Younger

None, Sir.

Mr. Winterton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that British Aerospace, which is responsible for the airframe of the Nimrod, has in every way honoured its part of the contract and come up to scratch, without any reservation whatsoever? Can my right hon. Friend say that there has been a breakthrough by GEC Avionics, which is responsible for the other part of the contract, and that there is now no chance that the contract, which is so vital to British Aerospace and to British manufacturing industry, will be placed abroad? If it is, it will be a disaster for employment in my constituency and in the areas represented by my hon. Friends the Members for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold), for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton) and Stockport (Mr. Favell). Will he assure us that the contract will be British and that he will buy British for the benefit of British employment'?

Mr. Younger

I can confirm to my hon. Friend that the work carried out by British Aerospace on the Nimrod AEW Mk Ill project is well advanced. However, a decision on the future of the project must take into account the implications my hon. Friend mentioned. I shall say no more about the bidders for the contract, as I wish to assess them all on an equal basis. I shall be waiting to see not only the bids that are put in, but the performance of the equipment to which those bids relate.

Mr. O'Neill

Will the Secretary of State assure us that a statement will be made to the House when that decision is taken, that it will not be taken during the recess when hon. Members will have no chance to question him and that there will be a proper statement, not a hole-in-corner operation such as we are getting today in relation to the frigates?

Mr. Younger

I note what the hon. Gentleman says, and I can tell him that it will be some considerable time yet before I am likely to decide on the matter. I note what he says about the necessity of a statement to the House. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will have heard that, and I shall certainly take it into account.

Mr. Leigh

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that whichever company is successful in obtaining the AEW contract, RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire will continue to be used as a base for AEW operations?

Mr. Younger

I cannot give quite such a categorical undertaking, but I appreciate my hon. Friend's strong interest in ensuring that that is so. Such decisions must await the result of the competition, which looks like being a most successful one, for the best equipment to fit the RAF with this important capability.