§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Industry what consultations Her Majesty's Government have had with other parties about the future of Concorde; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Government are at present responsible for the organisation procurement and funding of the British contribution to the in-service support of British Airways and Air France Concorde operations. The joint Anglo-French studies on the future of Concorde, which were conducted in the spring, showed that, on the basis of figures supplied by British Airways, the cost of such support up to the end of 1988 should be more than offset by Concorde operating surpluses. British Airways have therefore been asked whether they would be prepared to take on Her Majesty's Government's present financial and other responsibilities for in-service support, on the basis that Government funding of this will cease on 31 March 1983.
The airline is considering this proposal in consultation with other interested parties, and expects to let the Government have a definitive reply in early December. The French Government are being kept fully in touch with developments.
I have placed tables summarising the British input to the joint studies in the Library of the House.