§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Industry when prospects for a merger of BAC, HSA, HSD and Scottish Aviation with the managements or owners of those concerns were last discussed since February 1974.
§ Mr. KaufmanSince February 1974 Ministers and officials of the Department have discussed our proposals to take the aircraft industry into public ownership with representatives from the companies directly concerned—BAC, HSA, HSD and Scottish Aviation.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the new initiatives which have been taken by Government to assist the British aircraft manufacturing industry since February 1974.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe Government assist manufacturers in various ways to sell their aircraft and in that sense each sales effort is a new initiative. So far as military aircraft are concerned the Defence Sales Organisation of MOD are fully engaged406W in helping to promote sales. My Department and others such as ECGD help manufacturers generally in their export endeavours and there is constant liaison between the various officials concerned and the firms in the industry. And, of course, we have introduced the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill.