§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards support for the A330 and the A340 projects; if his Department will take steps to seek to promote an active British participation for engines, airframe and avionics in these projects; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieMy Department fully supports, in principle, the development of the Airbus family to cover a wider market range, and hopes that British airframe, aero-engine and avionics manufacturers will be able to participate in new Airbus projects that prove to have strong prospects of commercial viability. Airbus Industrie and the industrial partners are currently engaged in detailed studies of the A330/A340 projects and, until they have reached their own conclusions it is not possible for Governments to form a view on them. Any request for launch aid to meet the residual requirements for finance not met from the private sector would be carefully considered on its merits in the context of the financial constraints within which the Government must work.