§ 3.8 p.m.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy 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 what steps they are taking to evaluate the "ski jump" proposals relating to the launching of Sea Harrier aircraft.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, a research programme is currently under way.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I am greatly obliged to the noble Lord for that encouraging reply. Can he say what is the scale of the investigation into this proposal and whether it is not the case that the proposal, if adopted, would greatly enhance the performance of the Sea Harrier aircraft from conventional vessels?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising this issue, which I find an interesting one. The position is that the research programme is taking place at the RAE, Bedford. The first phase is almost complete and flight trials to be conducted by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited are planned for late in 1977. The estimated cost is £250,000.
Lord TREGFARNEMy Lords, may I put one further supplementary question? I am greatly obliged and encouraged by what the noble Lord has said, and I wonder whether he can say which aircraft will be used in the flight test programme and whether they will exactly correlate to the Sea Harrier aircraft on order.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMNo, my Lords; I do not know which aircraft is to be used. If the noble Lord will put down another Question, I shall give him an Answer.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, is the estimated cost to which the noble Lord referred the cost to October 1977 only or is it the cost of the whole programme?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, it is the estimated cost of the programme which is of a comparatively simple nature, although it is one of these elegant ideas that may produce benefits for little money.