§ Mr. Pattieasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the level of support other than financial, given by his Department towards future sales of the BAC 1–11; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KaufmanYes. My Department is in close and constant contact with the British Aircraft Corporation, and has given considerable assistance to the company in its efforts to sell 1–11 aircraft.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has had from steel, engineering and other suppliers to the aircraft industry, whether nationalised or not, about the need for replacements for the VC10, Trident and BAC 111 to be built in Great Britain or Europe with British manufactured components; and if he will make a statement about the next generation of civil aircraft to be manufactured jointly with American or European interests or independently in the British aircraft industry.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldMy right hon. Friend has received no direct representations of the kind mentioned by the hon Member. Because of the high costs and risks involved, major new civil aircraft projects are likely to be undertaken on a collaborative basis, and we intend to see that the United Kingdom industry obtains a profitable share of the substantial new business expected by the 1980s. I am satisfied that the United Kingdom airframe industry will take account of the interests of United Kingdom suppliers in determining the future projects in which to participate. But the airlines are not yet in a position to define their fleet requirements, and in the meantime the United Kingdom industry, under the auspices of the Organising Committee for British Aerospace, is exploring all the various collaborative opportunities.