§ Mr. George RobertsonThe Government remain strongly committed to the Eurofighter programme. The development phase is proceeding very satisfactorily. We are ready to sign the memoranda of understanding for the production and support phases and I hope that as a result of the positive decision by the German Cabinet on 8 October final German approval will be secured in the Bundestag later this month to proceed to the next phases. The aim of the four partner nations is to sign the memoranda of understanding for these phases in December 1997 and the relevant contracts very soon thereafter.
§ Mr. OlnerI thank my right hon. Friend not only for that reply, but for his earlier replies which show the Government's support for Eurofighter. That contrasts strongly with the views of the previous Government, who fought a general election campaign on the basis that, if the Labour party formed a Government, it would scrap this wonderful aeroplane. That was not true and what the Secretary of State has said has proved that.
12 Will my right hon. Friend give a further assurance that he will not listen to the siren voices on the Opposition Benches or to the shadow Secretary of State? Will he give my constituents at the Rolls-Royce aero-engine plant in Coventry the assurance that they and others working on Eurofighter will have the Government's full support?
§ Mr. RobertsonI thank my hon. Friend and put on record my gratitude for his robust support for a project that is important not just in defence terms, but in terms of the degree of European co-operation that we can find in respect of the most effective combat aircraft to meet the needs of the RAF and other European air forces. As a multi-role weapons system, it offers the operational flexibility necessary to meet the uncertain challenges of the next century. That is why the previous Government backed it and the present Government will continue to support it. I hope that all hon. Members will realise its value.
§ Mr. BluntWill the Secretary of State confirm that, as Eurofighter is exempt from the strategic defence review, which is the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Government's fundamental expenditure review, should there be any cost overruns on that £14 billion project—the most expensive procurement project ever undertaken—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Mr. Soames—that is not our custom. They may be pretty girls, but we do not hold conversations with officials in the box. You may talk to me. Mr. Soames.
§ Mr. BluntWill the Secretary of State confirm that, as Eurofighter is exempt from the review, which is the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Government's fundamental expenditure review, any overrun on that £14 billion project—the most expensive procurement project every undertaken by the Ministry of Defence—will not be allowed to skew the rest of the defence programme, but will be charged to the reserve?
§ Mr. RobertsonI do not know why you are so intolerant, Madam Speaker. I thought that bonding was the only thing that united the Conservative party at present.
Unlike the previous Government, we intend to keep a tight grip on all procurement projects. The House may be interested to learn that the hon. Gentleman was a special adviser in the Ministry of Defence under the previous Administration, so if anyone knows about cost overruns and in-service dates that have yet to appear, he should be the expert.