HL Deb 09 April 1970 vol 309 cc236-7

3.7 p.m.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how urgent they now consider their decision whether or not to support the BAC 311 project, and whether they will now make a further statement.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELACOURT-SMITH)

My Lords, the company's latest proposals for the BAC 311 have only recently been received. My right honourable friend the Minister of Technology has announced that he will complete the examination as soon as possible. I am unable to forecast a decision date.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he could advise us about the Government's proposed launching aid and possible loan if they back the BAC 311, and what estimated period of time this cost would be spread over?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, in the case of the launching aid, one would expect the sum to be spread over the development period, which for an aircraft of this kind would be of the order of approximately four years. In the case of the loan for production purposes, this would arise later, in the early years of the production process.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, can the noble Lord advise us whether the Chairman of B.E.A. has now submitted which of the three possible air-craft they would like to be equipped with in 1974?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, B.E.A. of course, like other airlines, have been considering this situation and, as I am currently informed, they are still evaluating the various possibilities. One would expect that any views they have on this subject would be communicated in the first instance to my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, can the Minister say if Her Majesty's Government have considered whether this could be a co-operative project, or whether it would be purely a British Aircraft Corporation project?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, the British Aircraft Corporation are continuing to seek overseas partners for this project, and there has been certainly a degree of interest on the part of some countries in participating in it.