§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the future aircraft purchasing policy of British Airways, in the context of safeguarding the future of the British aerospace industry.
§ Mr. Dell,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 632], gave the following information:
406Waverage and output measures of gross domestic product at 1970 factor cost. Estimates are not available for periods before 1948 and quarterly estimates were started only in 1958. There are no monthly figures available.
British Airways put to me in April a proposal to acquire 19 Boeing 737 aircraft. Following exhaustive discussions and consultations with all interested parties, I have decided to grant approval. British Airways have also carried out a further evaluation of their needs and at the same time I shall grant approval for them to enter into negotiations with British Aerospace for the acquisition of between three and six BAC111s.