§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has made for the future development of the United Kingdom aerospace and civil aviation industries, in the event of the United Kingdom not joining the Common Market.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assurances were sought from the European Econo- 252W mic Community regarding the future of the British aerospace industry and United Kingdom civil aviation; and what agreements were arrived at regarding the development of these industries, in the event of United Kingdom membership.
§ Mr. CorfieldNeither industry required special consideration in the entry negotiations and no plans have been developed against the event of the United Kingdom not joining the Common Market. While I am convinced both that progressively closer relations between British and European aerospace industries is very much in the mutual interests of the firms and the countries concerned and that British entry into the E.E.C. will greatly enlarge the opportunities for forging such closer ties, I am equally satisfied that they can only be effectively achieved on the basis of negotiation between firms and countries involved as the opportunities arise. The United Kingdom already plays a full part in the work of the European Civil Aviation Conference, and this consultative machinery is unlikely to be greatly affected by the United Kingdom entering or not entering the E.E.C.