§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what rates of exchange were used to cost the various options open to his Department for the purchase of helicopters; and what effect there would be if the costings were all adjusted to current rates of exchange.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 533]: Whenever purchases involving foreign exchange are being considered, the appropriate current rate of exchange is used. However, none of the three collaborative projects—EH101, NH90 and light battlefield helicopter—has yet reached the point where production orders are about to be placed.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations were made to the 642W Governments of France, Italy and Germany before 29 November last to persuade them to take a shareholding directly or indirectly in Westland helicopters in return for a commitment by the United Kingdom to buy a continental helicopter.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 533]: There were discussions with the Governments of France, Italy and Germany about ways and means of meeting helicopter requirements on a number of occasions. The possibility of a United Kingdom commitment to buy a continental helicopter in the context of a possible shareholding in Westland did not arise.