§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision on the fitting of the Rolls-Royce RB199–67R engine to the Tornado F2 aircraft.
§ Mr. PattieThe 67R variant of the RB 199 engine is at present one amongst a number of design proposals by Rolls-Royce for further development of this engine, but it has not proceeded beyond this preliminary study stage. We are still assessing ways in which the RB199 engine might be improved and whether any improved version should be fitted to Tornado aircraft and in what time scale. It is too early to say when a decision will be reached.