HL Deb 05 July 1967 vol 284 cc626-7

2.38 p.m.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can make any further statement on the decision, urgently required, to order new passenger aircraft for B.E.A.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY BOARD OF TRADE (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, since your Lordships' debate on May 9, both B.E.A. and the Board of Trade have carried their economic studies further. As your Lordships are aware, there are major financial and practical problems, and in any case it is necessary to have regard to the proposed European airbus, which itself is the subject of a meeting later this month between British, French and German Ministers. I am very conscious of the difficulties facing B.E.A. and hope that it will soon be possible to reach a decision.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply may I ask him whether, in the event of the A.F.V.G. project being cancelled, the European airbus project will be in danger of the same fate?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I can assure the noble Earl that there is no connection between these two projects. The outcome of the European airbus project will be decided entirely independently and is, as I have said, the subject of discussions to be held between our own Minister and the German and French Ministers later this month.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, in view of the great urgency of this matter may I ask the noble Lord whether he can hold out any hope that the decision will be taken and announced before the Summer Recess?

LORD WALSTON

No, my Lords; it would not be right for me to say categorically that a decision will be taken. As the noble Earl will be aware, it must depend to a large extent on the decisions taken in regard to the European airbus, and therefore we are not entirely our own masters in this matter. The meeting will be taking place later this month, and in the light of the outcome of that meeting a final decision will be taken on the other matter. But whether it will be possible to make an announcement before the Recess I cannot say.