HL Deb 15 February 1977 vol 379 cc1394-6

2.49 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 when they will decide to improve the existing range and payload of Concorde to make it a more acceptable aircraft to foreign airlines.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the British and French authorities have already agreed to the manufacturers undertaking certain modifications to improve the aircraft's existing performance, and these are being incorporated.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that rather more satisfactory Answer. Do the Government realise that if the airlines that are interested in Concorde take up their options, the existing five aircraft, whether improved or not, will all have gone? So have the Government considered consulting the French Government with a view to buying the existing five aircraft and leasing them, and then putting down an order for, say, 12 more keels so that 1,500 workers at BAC may not be made redundant by the end of the year?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, as regards the first part of the noble Earl's supplementary question, the policy issues involved in various forms of leasing are currently being examined by the British and French Governments. As regards the second part, that is another question.

Lord THOMAS

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that it is of great importance for the Government to press for route rights and overflying facilities? We can rest assured that the British Aircraft Corporation, the makers of Concorde, will have already advised likely purchasers of the improvements that they can incorporate. Therefore, the urgency of obtaining route rights is much more important for the existing aircraft which have not been fully occupied, and for the parts of the aircraft which are already in existence and which will be assembled in further aircraft, so that the aircraft can be flown.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for the positive suggestions contained within his question.

The Earl of KIMBERLEY

My Lords, may I ask this further question: Do the Government realise that if these existing five unsold aircraft go in one way or the other, it will take at least three years to produce the next one off the production line?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I think that this is a very wide subject, which could be better dealt with other than by means of simple questions.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, arising from the Question on the Order Paper, can the Minister say whether the range of Concorde, as now being improved as the Minister has announced, is sufficient to enable it to serve certain more Southern gateways in the United States if access to New York is, in the final event, denied to us?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is another question. However, the 7½ per cent, increase in the contingency rating of the powerplant should help its hot and high performance.