§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the likelihood of France exercising her right to opt out of the development of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft at a later stage should sufficient export orders not be obtained, what are the Government's plans for a variable geometry strike and reconnaissance aircraft.
§ Mr. HealeyI do not accept the hypothesis on which the question is based.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence what precautions he is 35W taking to ensure that the cost of development of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft does not exceed £200 million and that the cost of each aircraft does not exceed £1½ million.
§ Mr. HealeyI am not prepared to comment on the cost limits which the hon. Member has postulated but it is the intention of the French Government and ourselves to exercise the closest control over the project to ensure that the aircraft is produced as economically as possible. Already the project has undergone far more scrutiny than any other project at a comparable stage and the most modern management techniques will be used to monitor and control future progress.
§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in agreeing the technical specification of the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft in March, he will ensure that its capabilities match up to the Royal Air Force requirements previously provided for in the TSR2.
§ Mr. HealeyThe operational requirement which the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft is intended to meet is different from the requirement for which the TSR2 was envisaged and which will now be met by the F111.