HC Deb 08 August 1980 vol 990 cc440-1W
Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure the Lear Fan aircraft meets United Kingdom airworthiness design requirements.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Certification of the Lear Fan aircraft by the Civil Aviation Authority is not a matter for negotiation by my officials, and will depend solely on the Lear Fan company's ability to satisfy the Authority that the design conforms with the technical requirements to be set by the Authority.

The Authority, following a meeting with the company this week, has said that it is not aware of any insurmountable problems. The Authority will remain in close working contact with the company and with the United States Federal Aviation Administration, which is already exercising a similar monitoring role in relation to the certification of the aircraft in the United States.