HL Deb 19 February 1969 vol 299 cc819-20
LORD TREFGARNE

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 propose to withdraw their support of the Anglo-European A 300 Air-bus project; and, if so, whether they will now support the BAC 311 or other British aircraft.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the A 300 project was withdrawn by the European air-bus consortium on its own initiative in December, and the 250-seater A 300B proposed in its place. No decision has yet been taken on Her Majesty's Government's support for this project or the competing BAC 311. Either project would have to satisfy stringent tests of economic viability if it were to enjoy Government support.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Is he aware that this project, in the guise of either A 300 or A 300B, has now been under consideration for two years at least and that substantial sums of Government money have already been spent on various design work? Can he therefore give an undertaking that the Government will consider their position in this matter urgently, with a view to reaching a decision as soon as possible?

LORD BESWICK My Lords, the noble Lord is very well informed on some of these matters, but I am surprised at some of the remarks he makes. It is not right to say, "the aircraft, under the guise of A 300 or A 300B." They are two different aircraft; and if one clear thing emerges from this somewhat unclear situation it is that we should have been mistaken had we agreed to go ahead with the A 300 at the time the noble Lord was pressing it in July and November.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I am not pressing him to go ahead with either? I am hoping he will scrap both.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, in view of the many pieces of advice about the aircraft industry that the Government receive in the form of Questions in this House, can my noble friend say how the state of the aircraft industry to-day companies with that of four years ago, before the Government undertook those measures for reorganisation? Can he give us details of the production of the industry, the exports of the industry, the profitability of the industry and so on?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I certainly will not go into the details for which the noble Lord has asked in reply to this supplementary question; but it can be said that the aircraft industry has had a second wind since this Government took over four years ago.