§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average amount spent by Great Britain yearly on European aerospace programmes in the last 10 years; and if he will list projects in which there is currently United Kingdom-European cooperation, including electronics, vertical take-off and landing, materials and research.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe average annual expenditure by Her Majesty's Government16W over the past 10 years on aerospace and allied projects in which we have collaborated with other European countries has been of the order of £50 million: this figure excludes those projects under the aegis of N.A.T.O. which involve collaboration on both sides of the Atlantic. The major current programmes include the Concorde, Jaguar and multi-rôle combat aircraft, the Anglo/French helicopters, the Martel and Exocet guided weapons, military radar, and telecommunication and aeronautical satellites. In addition, there are a number of projects such as the A300B and the F28 in which Her Majesty's Government have no direct financial stake but in which British industry has a substantial rôle.