European Fighter Aircraft

HC Deb 03 April 1990 vol 170 c1027

13. Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the progress of the European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Alan Clark

Development is proceeding satisfactorily. More than 85 per cent of the contracts for the development phase have already been let.

Mr. Stern

Will the Minister take this opportunity to reaffirm the Government's faith in this project, the engines for which are built in my constituency? Did he notice the start of a campaign of denigration against the project, which was apparent among the Opposition in the last Parliament, and has he noticed that a similar attempt to unsettle the work force is already starting?

Mr. Clark

I deplore that. The Government are completely behind the project. That was confirmed as recently as last Friday when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the German Defence Minister. We have no doubt whatever that the European fighter aircraft will be the dominant air superiority fighter in the year 2000.