§ 6. Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the future of the Nimrod advanced early warning programme.
§ Mr. YoungerWe have received commercial proposals from seven companies to meet the United Kingdom's need for an airborne early warning system: Airship Industries, Boeing Aerospace Co., GEC Avionics, Grumman International, Lockheed California Co., MEL and Pilatus Britten-Norman. In addition, we have had proposals from the United States Government to supply either of the systems in current United States military service through foreign military sales arrangements. These responses are now being assessed and I hope to make a decision in the autumn.