§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the course of his consideration of the possibility of acquiring a small number of wide-bodied jets for conversion to a strategic tanker role, he will estimate the value of the United Kingdom-produced contents of the aircraft under consideration and the employment implications of purchasing each type of aircraft; if he will include the Tristar and the DC10 aircraft in these considerations; and if he will publish his estimates in the Official Report.
§ Mr. PattieBoth the Tristar and the DC10 are already included in our studies of the possible acquisition of secondhand wide-bodied jet aircraft for conversion to the strategic tanker role. Operational suitability must be our first consideration, but we shall also take into account the 519W employment and other implications for British industries. Considerations of commercial confidentiality will, however, constrain the extent to which I shall be able to disclose estimates of cost.