§ 37. Mr. R. Carrasked the Minister of Technology whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement regarding 150W the projected development of the European airbus.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo.
I hope the next meeting of British, French and German Ministers to discuss this project will be held within the next few weeks.
§ 38. Mr. Robert Howarthasked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made to the cost to public funds of the design and building of the European airbus with British engines and the BAC211, respectively.
§ Mr. StonehouseIt would be premature for me to indicate at this stage the cost to public funds of a United Kingdom contribution to the launching costs of a European airbus with British engines. No decision on this has yet been reached. As regards the BAC211, I informed the House on 20th March that the launching cost estimates by the manufacturers concerned amount to about £100 million in total if the RB 211 engine were used, divided roughly equally between airframe and engine. The Government would almost certainly be asked to put up the greater part of this cost.