§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to announce whether they will place an order for the Maritime Harrier.
Lord WTNTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am glad to say that, as was announced yesterday, the Government have now decided to confirm the placing of the Maritime Harrier in the defence programme and to proceed to full development.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Is he aware that this will give a great deal of pleasure not only to those involved in making and designing this aircraft, not only to those involved in the security and defence of the country, but also to a vast spectrum of people who will be thankful that another British invention will not be axed and will be allowed to continue to develop? May I ask the noble Lord this one specific question? Is one to understand from that Answer that it is not merely the allowance for the expenditure which is to be continued in the Defence Estimates, but that an order for 25 aircraft has actually been given? If it has not been given, can the noble Lord say when it will be given?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his very kind response to my Answer, which I think was reflected in the approbation of this House. As regards the placing of a contract, I cannot comment because this matter is at an early stage. But when I say that the decision has been reached to proceed to full development, this means implementation of the whole programme 952 within the long-term costings, which must involve the placing of orders in due course for the 25 machines in question.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I am sure that the majority of your Lordships would like the noble Lord to congratulate the Secretary of State for Defence in another place on the decision taken in developing this aircraft. Furthermore, might I suggest to the noble Lord that if he has not already done so he should take a ride in one of these aircraft at the first available opportunity, because it is a unique experience.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I shall certainly convey to my right honourable friend the congratulations of the noble Earl. I only wish that I had had the pleasure which he has enjoyed of flying in this aircraft.
§ Lord BALNIELMy Lords, may I welcome the decision both on policy grounds and also because of the great employment it will bring to Hawker Siddley, Ferranti, and Rolls-Royce? May I first ask the Minister about the export potential of the aircraft? I understand that there is a possibility of an order from Iran and that, if necessary, the Royal Navy may be deferring the bringing into operation of its own through-deck cruiser to assist the order. Can the noble Lord say whether this is so and what are the implications for the Navy? Are they serious, or will the next through-deck cruiser be coming fairly soon?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMYes, my Lords. May I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State at his Press conference yesterday, that if the interest of Iran in, shall we say, the package of through-deck cruiser, Harrier and Sea King did go forward, there would be opportunities to transfer the Navy's requirement for the next through-deck cruiser to the Iranian Government. But it does not, in fact, affect the needs of the Royal Navy. The first deployment of the Maritime Harrier seems to be on board HMS "Hermes".
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether the further development of this aircraft is regarded as putting us a jump ahead?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I should say two jumps ahead!