HC Deb 20 October 1992 vol 212 cc250-1W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the meeting of the Defence Ministers of the nations collaborating in the European fighter aircraft programme on 4 August.

Mr. Aitken

My right hon. and learned Friend met his Spanish, Italian and German counterparts in Madrid on 4 August. Studies were set in hand to consider ways of reducing costs in the EFA programme and to review the operational requirement in the light of the recent changes in the international security situation. Both studies are due to be completed by the end of October, and the Ministers plan to meet again in December to discuss the results.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the total cost to all four participating countries in pounds sterling of the development programe of the European fighter aircraft programme; how much of that figure has already been spent; and if he will give a breakdown by participating country.

Mr. Aitken

The total cost to the four partner nations of developing EFA is estimated at about £8.5 billion, of which the United Kingdom share is about £2.7 billion. Virtually all of this is now contractually committed. Bills paid to date by the United Kingdom amount to a little over £1 billion.

We do not maintain records of the progress of expenditure by our partners. Work was allocated at the start of development in the ratio: United Kingdom 33 per cent., Germany 33 per cent., Italy 21 per cent., Spain 13 per cent. Each nation meets the cost of common work performed by its industry and the whole cost of any national-specific requirements.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to meet his counterparts from Germany, Italy and Spain to discuss the future of the European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Aitken

My right. hon. and learned Friend plans to meet his German, Italian and Spanish counterparts in December to discuss the results of the studies they commissioned on 4 August. It is possible that they may have some preliminary discussions when they meet on other bilateral or multilateral occasions.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the engineering facilities in the United Kingdom, giving the name of the company and the geographical location where over 50 people are working on the development of the European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Aitken

The three main British companies involved in the development of EFA are British Aerospace—principally, the Warton facility—Rolls—Royce—Bristol—and GEC—principally, the Rochester, Edinburgh and Stanmore facilities. There are approaching 300 companies in the United Kingdom acting as sub-contractors or suppliers. It would not be possible without disproportionate cost to identify the facilities of those companies with over 50 people engaged on work connected with EFA.

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British jobs are currently dependent on the European fighter aircraft development programme.

Mr. Aitken

Approximately 9,400 people in the United Kingdom are directly employed on work connected with the development of EFA. When EFA enters the production phase, we estimate that this number will rise to around 28,000.