HL Deb 15 October 1976 vol 375 cc645-6
The Earl of KIMBERLEY

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—

  1. (1) whether BAC are participating in full with a sales team and air crew in the proposed sales tour of the French Concorde to the Far East and Australasia, since these are areas of British sales and responsibilities; and
  2. (2) what British Minister, of equal status to the French, will be participating in this sales tour.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, the Concorde tour of the Far East is to be undertaken jointly by the two manufacturers, Aerospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation. Both have been deeply involved in the preparations for the tour, and both will deploy strong sales teams. As Aircraft 203 is owned by Aerospatiale, it will provide the aircrew. M. Rossi, the French Minister for External Trade, will travel on the aircraft to Manila to fulfil other engagements there. No British Minister will be involved.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Can he please say why we do not have a British Minister going on what is obviously an extremely important sales trip and, particularly as I am led to believe that it is a British sales area, why we are not flying in a British Concorde?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, the Far East tour is being led by the two aircraft manufacturers, with support from both the British and French Government Departments concerned with Concorde. The only ministerial involvement is that of M. Rossi, and he was already travelling to Manila. He will simply fly on the first day of the tour, so that it is not a ministerial participation from the French side in any full sense. As to the aircraft, Aircraft 202 is required for flight testing purposes, and no other unsold British aircraft is available. The manufacturers therefore decided to use Aircraft 203, which is available.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, I thank the Minister again for that answer. As any publicity that has so far been evoked about this tour has entirely concerned the French, does the Minister not think that it is bad public relations on the part of the Government that we did not take the lead from the French for a change, and do something ourselves first?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, as I indicated in my opening Answer, this has from the start been very much a joint operation. Our posts abroad on the tour are fully apprised of the situation, and we shall get publicity equally with the French.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, is it not the case that Philippine Airlines have said that they might buy a Concorde if they are granted traffic rights into London? Is it possible that M. Rossi is going to offer them traffic rights into Paris, in the hope of selling an aeroplane?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I have no information about that. It is true that Philippine Airlines are showing an interest in Concorde.

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