§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Aviation if he will list the contracts which have so far been let in respect of the Concord project, giving the date and amount and country concerned in each case.
§ Mr. MulleyContracts have been let by my Department in respect of the Concord project to British Aircraft Corporation, in September, 1965, and Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd., in December, 1962. The contract with B.A.C. superseded an earlier one which had been running since June, 1961; the contract with B.S.E. Ltd. will, it is hoped, shortly be superseded by a new contract. Subsidiary contracts have been let to the Air Registration Board, and Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Ltd. The contracts in each of these cases are for limited amounts of work. The total value is at present about £62 million.
Corresponding contracts have been let by the French Government to Sud Aviation and Societe Nationale d'Etudes et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Aviation what was the total financial commitment to the Anglo-French Concord project at 15th October, 1964; and what is the present British financial commitment.
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§ Mr. MulleyUnder the terms of the Anglo-French Agreement of 29th November, 1962 the U.K. and French Governments agreed to share equally the cost of the development of Concord. At 15th October, 1964 the estimated cost of this development was £275 million up to the stage of the issue of Certificate of Airworthiness. These costs are at present under review.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Aviation how many people are at present employed on the Concord project in the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has made on the number of university graduates among them.
§ Mr. MulleyAbout 4,400 people are directly employed on Concord at the two main English contractors (British Aircraft Corporation Limited, and Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited). About as many again provide various essential services, although not directly employed on the project.
I have no information on the proportion who are university graduates.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Aviation when the first test flight of the Concord aircraft will take place; and how this compares with the original forecast.
§ Mr. MulleyThe first prototype aircraft is planned to fly early in 1968. At the time of the Anglo-French Concord Agreement of 29th November, 1962, the first flight was expected to take place late in 1966.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Aviation what has been the actual British expenditure to date on the Concord project.
§ Mr. MulleyBritish expenditure on the Concord project was about £24.5 million at the end of December, 1965.