§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations took place between his Department and the GEC-Marconi-Elliott Company concerning the decision to subcontract work on the multi-rôle combat aircraft to the Sellenia Company of Italy; and if he is satisfied with that decision.
§ Mr. MasonThere are well-established procedures for consultation between the partner countries and with the main contractor for the selection of contractors 761W and subcontractors for all MRCA equipments, and I am satisfied that the decision was properly arrived at as part of the general work-sharing arrangements between the partner countries.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the integrity and safety of the weapons control system of the multi-rôle combat aircraft have been altered by upgrading or downgrading; when such changes took place; what were the costs involved; who authorised the changes; and for what reasons they took place.
§ Mr. MasonThe integrity and safety requirements of the weapons control system for the MRCA have not been altered.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the United Kingdom contractors who in 1971 tendered for the weapons system programme for the multi-rôle combat aircraft in order of tender price; which contractor was successful; and how much subsidy was given to that contractor between 1971 and 1974.
§ Mr. MasonIt is not the practice to reveal details of tender prices for Government contracts, but, in alphabetical order, tenders were received from BAC Ltd., Computing Devices Co. Ltd., Marconi Elliott Avionics Systems Ltd. and the Plessey Co. Ltd. I am not aware of any subsidy that the successful tenderer, Marconi-Elliott Avionics Systems Ltd., may have received between 1971 and 1974.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the GEC-Marconi Elliott Company needed public funds to develop the weapons control system of the multi-rôle combat aircraft; who authorised the payment; and how the expenditure was monitored.
§ Mr. MasonDevelopment of a weapon control system is an element of the MRCA weapon system development programme which is being jointly funded by Britain, Germany and Italy. Work has been monitored and paid for in accordance with the conditions of the contract.
§ Mr. Conlanasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current 762W state of progress on the multi-role combat aircraft.
§ Mr. MasonProgress on the project continues to be very encouraging. Six prototypes have now flown and the flight test programme is going well. Project definition studies of an interceptor version of the MRCA for the RAF have been completed and evaluated, and a stringent review undertaken of our air defence requirement and of the possible alternative ways of meeting it. These studies have confirmed that procurement of an air defence variant of the MRCA continues to offer the best solution to our needs and the Government have accordingly decided to authorise its full development.
Production arrangements, on the basis of a total British requirement for 385 aircraft, are expected to be agreed with our partners by the summer.