§ LORD THOMASMy 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 if there is information available to indicate whether the present rate of Government supported research and development work in the British aircraft industry is sufficient to ensure medium and long term benefit from future international export business.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)My Lords, export possibilities are taken into account when requirements for new military aircraft are being considered and in the development programme. They also play a major part when the Government are considering requests from industry for aid in the development and launching of new civil aircraft. Whether the 2 present rate of Government-supported research and development work in the British aircraft industry is sufficient to ensure future export business in the medium and long term is a matter of judgment. Its level is subject to regular review in the light of Government policy and of the progress achieved by research here and abroad. Its results become apparent only as projects reach maturity years later and orders are won.
§ LORD THOMASMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that thoughtful and comprehensive Answer. Is he aware that there is a growing feeling in sophisticated industry that there is insufficient drive behind official encouragement for such things as short take-off and short landing aircraft, quieter air jet engines and devices of that kind. which will have an important export commercial benefit or otherwise in the years to come?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, the initiative in these matters in civil aircraft has to come of course from the industry itself. But, as my honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Aerospace indicated in another place, specific contracts are now being negotiated with the British aircraft industry relating to exploratory engineering studies for a short/medium haul airliner. On the subject of reduction of noise, the level of expenditure in the last few years has been running at or over £1 million a year, and in the last year the Government bore rather more than a quarter of that.
§ LORD BURNTWOODMy Lords, is the Minister aware that in certain research establishments—and I am thinking particularly of Malvern—components and additions to aircraft, as opposed to complete aircraft, are a major element in their work, and that sometimes inventions and developments are frustrated so far as exports are concerned by the fact that by the rules of these establishments such developments cannot be offered to one single manufacturer or seller? While I am not expressing one view or the other, is he satisfied that the recommendations of the Working Party, which was originally set up I think by Mr. Mulley some years ago to secure the maximum spin-off benefit from these developments and research, have been put into practice by the Government?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, it is difficult ever to be satisfied on anything in this sphere, but there is no doubt that there is a great deal of activity and Government study and the closest collaboration between the industry and the Government. As to the particular point that the noble Lord raises, I shall be glad to look into it and to write to him.
§ LORD GRANVILLE OF EYEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether in his inquiries he has taken into consideration the tremendous advantage to allied engineering and general engineering and the aerospace industry of a viable and prosperous research and technical development in the aviation industry, particularly with regard to investment in machine tools?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNYes, my Lords; I think that that is certainly taken into account. The main point of course is to maintain a technological capability in this country.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us how soon the Government are going to change their policy with regard to the aircraft industry, as they have changed it in so many other directions? Are they likely to have £35 million or £50 million that they can fling away on research and development?
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, as the noble Lord knows, there is a Committee under Sir Robert Marshall sitting at the present time on the whole aero- 4 space question. We shall be debating this matter within the next few days. But the Government never have money to throw away, and do not throw money away.