§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish the names of those people whom he has approached to date to ask if they would serve on either the proposed organising committee for the British Aerospace Corporation or the board of that proposed corporation.
§ Mr. KaufmanMy right hon. Friend will be announcing initial appointments to the Organising Committee after the Second Reading of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill. This committee will form the nucleus of the Board of British Aerospace.
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§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Industry to what market surveys he has had access during his considerations of the future of the British and of the EEC aerospace industries.
§ Mr. KaufmanOfficials of my Department are in constant touch with the market research experts of the main United Kingdom firms in the industry. They also have some information on airline forecasts, and on how some foreign aircraft manufacturers assess future requirements.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met his opposite numbers in other EEC Governments to discuss the future prospects of the aero-space industry; what conclusions were reached; and when the next such meeting is planned.
§ Mr. KaufmanThere have been meetings and contacts with Ministers of other EEC countries ad hoc on specific aerospace matters which affect the future prospects of the industry. Problems concerning civil aircraft development, space and military requirements are considered by the responsible Ministers in the appropriate forum as necessary. Generalised discussions have not been held and are not envisaged.