HL Deb 19 October 1976 vol 375 cc1128-30

2.52 p.m.

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 whether they have endorsed a Treasury recommendation that the developed Concorde project should not be funded now, nor in 1977, thereby jeopardising up to 10,000 jobs in the United Kingdom and the E.E.C.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I am not sure what the noble Lord means in his reference to a "developed Concorde project". If he could amplify this, I should be ready, of course, to look into that matter.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, the project referred to is the Mark II—not any of the 16 existing aircraft.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, the noble Earl possibly knows that there is to be a Ministerial meeting on 2nd November where the project to which he now refers will be discussed. A communiqué will be issued after that Ministerial meeting.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this developed Concorde project has been on the Government desk almost since the day they came into office? Can he now assure us that the matter will be moved ahead with all due expedition?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I have indicated that there is to be a meeting quite soon at which this matter will be discussed. I am not, of course, able at this stage to indicate what the Government's attitude at that conference will be.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, is it likely to come to a decision or just consider the matter further?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, as I understand it, the latter.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord this question? In the Government Paper on public expenditure, published in February this year, there is from 1975 to 1980 a budget of £79.4 million for research and development. If this is not going to be spent on the new Concorde, what is it going to be spent on?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, I shall have to ask the noble Earl to give me notice of that question.

Lord THOMAS

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that it is much more important to sell the remaining 15 Concordes, for which parts have already been machined ready for putting together, than to embark on a Mark II Concorde. When there are so many of the existing type to be sold, would it not be better to put more sales pressure behind the existing types?

Lord ORAM

My Lords, indeed the sales aspect of the existing Concorde is most important, as the noble Lord rightly says. At the same time I think it is necessary also to look into the future. In terms of funds, it is a question of balance between the two.

Lord HANKEY

My Lords, would it not be better to press on with the development of an aeroplane which is probably the best aeroplane flying than to spend money on nationalising an industry which is doing quite well by itself?

Lord BOWDEN

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that we have already spent as much on Concorde as would have sufficed live years ago to buy up the entire American aerospace industry?