HC Deb 29 October 1981 vol 10 cc463-4W

Mr. Wilkinson asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the production rate of the Tornado aircraft for the Royal Air Force has been slowed down in 1981 or whether any slowing down of the planned production rate of the aeroplane for the Royal Air Force in 1982 has been approved.

Mr. Pattie: The production rate of the Tornado aircraft is related to the delivery requirements of all three partner countries in this project—United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. No decision has been taken to slow the production rate for deliveries of the Tornado to the Royal Air Force in 1981 or in 1982.