§ 2.43 p.m.
The Earl of BESSBOROUGHMy 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, according to their information, there is any truth in reports that the French aircraft manufacturers Aerospatiale are contemplating building the next generation airbus, the A300 BB10, and the next civil supersonic transport in co-operation with the Boeing aircraft company rather than with British aircraft firms, and whether the Government have made any representations to the French Government on this matter.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)My Lords, I understand that the manufacturers of the airbus are exploring with Boeing the possibilities for collaboration on new derivatives of the airbus. All the European manufacturers, including our own companies, are discussing future projects among themselves and with United States companies. The Government have told the French and German Governments that we will look seriously at proposals by the United Kingdom's industry for participation in any civil aviation project, including the A300.
The Earl of BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer which is partly reassuring. Will the Government make absolutely certain that the best aircraft industry in Europe, the British aircraft industry, is not left 1261 out of future major co-operative aircraft projects within the Community?
§ Lord MELCHETTYes, my Lords; as the noble Earl will be aware from reports in the Press, discussions have been going on this week with American manufacturers, and today my honourable friend the Minister of State is meeting officials from Aerospatiale.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, can the Minister give any assurance that if Aerospatiale come to some agreement with the Boeing aircraft company they will not give away the know-how, design and build of our present supersonic aircraft to the Americans, as most of the technology in this aircraft is British?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, as the noble Earl will know, all four manufacturers of Concorde are exchanging information on supersonic aircraft on a regular basis with American companies. So far as I know, recent discussions with Boeing and French aircraft manufacturers, which, as I said, are part of a series of bilateral discussions, and discussions between different Governments and different countries, are not connected with supersonic aircraft.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, can the noble Lord clarify one part of his original Answer? Have the Government indicated, or do they intend to indicate, to the French and German Governments that the British Government would be prepared to participate in the airbus industry as partners, which of course we are not at the moment?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, while we are not partners, the noble Earl will know that Hawker-Siddeley are manufacturing the wings for the airbus, which represents about 15 per cent. by value of the final aircraft. They are therefore playing a large and important part in the production of the airbus, and we are ensuring that Hawker-Siddeley should be enabled to continue to play a part in any future development.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, I quite understand that, but does the noble Lord mean by that reply that the Government are not prepared to be partners in the airbus industry?
§ Lord MELCHETTNo, my Lords; I did not say that. I said that the Government would consider seriously and urgently any proposals on future civil aviation projects put to us by British manufacturers.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, have the Government considered building a wide-bodied 200 or 250-seater aircraft in this country, without the help of Europe or America?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I do not think anybody, including the Americans, believes it would be possible to build one of the next civil aviation aircraft without some collaborative effort, and I do not think the Government do, either. That is why we have made it perfectly clear to our partners in Europe, and to the Americans, that we are prepared to collaborate on any viable projects.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, if the future wing were to require a development cost of £60 million to £70 million, as I understand is the case, would the Government be prepared to back that?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, I said that the Government would be prepared to back any commercially viable civil aviation projects which British companies bring to us. I regret to say that the noble Earl has not provided me with sufficient information for me to say whether or not the wing he is talking about is commercially viable.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, the noble Lord said earlier that Hawker-Siddeley will play an important part in the manufacture of the airbus, so why is it that British Airways ordered the TriStar? Secondly, does the noble Lord agree that the airbus is a much more satisfactory, pleasant and cheaper aircraft than the TriStar?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, that is an interesting but different question.