HL Deb 27 May 1976 vol 371 cc465-6WA
The Earl of KIMBERLEY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i)the date on which the Concorde Management Board gave authority for the present grounding of Concorde 201 at Toulouse;
  2. (ii)the name and number of the document giving this authority;
  1. (iii)whether they will give a breakdown of the costs to the British Taxpayer in sterling of the grounding of Concorde 201;
  2. (iv)what are the predicted flying costs per hour in sterling on Concorde 201, after the completion of the present grounding;
  3. (v)how many flying hours have been allocated to Concorde 201 after the present grounding;
  4. (vi)whether the British Taxpayer is responsible for funding 50 per cent. of all the costs of Concorde 201 after completion of its present grounding, and, if so, what will be the estimated cost in sterling;
  5. (vii)the names of the British and French officials who are members of the Concorde Management Board;
  6. (viii)what qualifications are necessary for appointment to the Concorde Management Board.

Lord MELCHETT

: The Concorde Management Board is composed of senior British and French officials who work on the Concorde project. It would not be appropriate to identify them or to detail the proceedings of the Board which are confidential to the two Governments.

British firms will be supplying at Government expense modification kits to the value of about £200,000 for refitting Aircraft 201. The aircraft will be put at the disposal of the four manufacturers for flight testing and demonstration purposes; and the number of hours flown and the costs to the firms, which in this country are funded by the Government, will depend upon the use that is made of the aircraft.

House adjourned for the Whitsun Recess at twelve minutes before five o'clock, until Tuesday, 8th June.