HL Deb 11 February 1971 vol 315 c244

3.16 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 how soon a decision will be reached on the Harrier as an aircraft carrier requirement.]

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, a decision will be taken when the necessary studies have been completed.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he is able to go a stage further and say whether an evaluation squadron will be carrying out trials at sea? Secondly, can he say if the Pegasus 15 engine involved with the Harrier will continue to be developed?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, there will be trials at sea, as my noble friend knows, and, of course, if Parliament passes the Rolls-Royce (Purchase) Bill, the new Rolls-Royce company, managed by the Government, will continue the defence contracts that now exist.