§ Mr. Bowen Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will support Leeward Islands Air Transport in its desire to order British Aerospace Super 748 aircraft instead of the French aircraft insisted upon by the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RaisonI have made it clear to the development comissioner, Mr. Pisani, that the Government of the Caribbean, who own Leeward Islands Air Transport, would prefer the Super 748 and that the United Kingdom expects the procurement rules of the Lomé convention to be fully and fairly applied in this case. I understand that the Caribbean authorities have not yet formally responded to the European Commission's latest communication on the choice of aircraft. There can be no question of United Kingdom aid while negotiations with the European Community are continuing.