§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement explaining where and when the recent meeting of national armaments directors of France, Germany and Italy took place at which the decision was made to purchase only helicopters built in Europe; and what steps he took to publicise the decisions made at the meeting and the implications of the decisions for defence policy.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 534]: The national armaments directors of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom met in London on 29 November 1985. Her Majesty's Government's position on the NADs' recommendation was set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the 610W Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the House of Commons on 16 December 1985 and again on 13 January 1986.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government are satisfied that other EEC countries would be willing to supply helicopters to the United Kingdom for use in the Falklands should hostilities recommence.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 533]: I have no reason to believe that the supply of helicopters would be a problem in these circumstances.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the letter to him, dated 3 January, from Mr. Horne was received; when it was sent; and whether he had prior knowledge of the dispatch of the letter or its terms.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 525]: The letter from Mr. Horne was received on 3 January, the day it was sent. My right hon. Friend was aware of its terms before the letter was received in the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his letter, dated 3 January, to Mr. Horne, whether the Italian Government or Agusta have said that in the event of a link-up between Westland and Sikorsky-Fiat they will not proceed with the full development of the 13-tonne (EH 101) helicopter launched in 1984; which other countries would be interested in replacing Westland in this bilateral arrangement; whether any United Kingdom defence procurement interest would be jeopardised; and what claims Westland or the British Government would have under the terms of the agreement against Agusta if the agreement was denounced on the Italian side.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1985, c. 528]: The EH 101 project was not included in the projects referred to by my right hon. Friend in his letter of 3 January, where he stated explicitly that there were indications available to Her Majesty's Government that a Westland link with Sikorsky-Fiat would be incompatible with participation by that company on behalf of the United kingdom in the collaborative battlefield helicopter and NH90 projects. There have been recent indications that Agusta is content to proceed with full development of the EH 101 helicopter.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the 13-tonne class (EH 101) helicopter being developed by Westland and Augusta; what requirement for each of the armed services in the United Kingdom would be met by this helicopter; how many machines would be purchased by the United Kingdom and Italian Governments and at what cost; whether comparable machines are available or under development in the United States of America; whether the Augusta-Westland machine would be cheaper than a comparable United States machine; and whether the complete machine would be made in the United Kingdom independently of components made in Italy.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 529]: The EH 101 helicopter is being produced to meet the Royal Navy's requirement to replace 611W the Sea King and Lynx in an anti-submarine role. Initial orders are expected to amount to about 90 helicopters, including 50 for the United Kingdom. Total programme costs for the United Kingdom are estimated at £1 .5 billion at current economic rates. There is no comparable machine currently available or under development in the United States of America. Collaborative production will involve the assembly in both countries of complete helicopters from components some of which will have been made in the United Kingdom and some in Italy.