HL Deb 27 October 1971 vol 324 cc659-60

2.19 p.m.

LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURY

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 will make a statement on the future of the British aircraft industry.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are giving careful consideration to the future of the British aerospace industry, particularly in relation to Europe. It would serve no useful purpose to make a Statement at present.

LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURY

My Lords while recognising that Her Majesty's Government have been very busy dealing with other national affairs, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that for the past 16 months this industry has been in somewhat of a vacuum, that there is a great number of unemployed and that orders were placed in America by the previous Administration? Does he not agree that an early statement should be made on this important problem or that it should be debated?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, as I think my noble friend will be aware, and as I said, Her Majesty's Government have given careful consideration to this matter and have set up a Committee to look into the whole of the British aerospace industry. I think my noble friend will agree, however, that it would not be very useful for me to attempt to make a Statement until the Committee has reported and the Report has been examined.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, can my noble friend give some indication of when this Report might be made? We in this country have a unique position in aero engines, airframes, avionics and other ancillary equipment for aircraft, both on the aircraft and for control of aircraft on the ground. An early Statement is really desirable in view of the probable entry of this country into the E. E. C.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I can assure my noble friend that I appreciate the urgency of this matter, and there is nothing to prevent a debate on the subject if thought desirable. But I should think that it would be sensible to await the Report, which will take into account all the things that my noble friend has mentioned.

LORD GREENWOOD OF ROSSENDALE

My Lords, I wonder whether the noble Lord would allow me to make this point. All of us in this House are worried about unemployment. The noble Lord, Lord Harvey of Prestbury, has great experience of the aircraft industry, and it might well be that a debate at this time would be of service and would be valuable to the Committee considering it. I very much hope that noble Lords opposite will consider this suggestion more sympathetically than the noble Lord, Lord Drumalbyn, has done up to now.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am afraid that it is not for me to consider that suggestion sympathetically or unsympathetically. It is a matter for my noble friend sitting beside me. He whispered in my ear and gave me to understand that it might be considered sympathetically.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, may I confirm my sympathetic whisper? If there is a real feeling—and I detect that there is—that we should have a debate on the future of this very important industry, then obviously, if it can be arranged conveniently through the usual channels, I am sure it will be done.