§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the potential benefits of the experimental aircraft projects programme.
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Acres County 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 Total Clwyd — 11 — 22 36 15 49 32 4 205 374 Dyfed — 61 69 3 8 15 102 43 171 130 602 Gwent 213 929 140 115 71 64 185 103 36 40 1,896 Gwynedd 3 54 16 — 5 6 35 75 5 2 201 Mid Glamorgan 130 145 654 140 61 46 116 21 280 220 1,813 Powys — 33 2 1 — 3 2 — — 1 42 South Glamorgan — 6 2 156 35 — 13 41 — — 253 West Glamorgan 61 170 126 73 172 201 145 108 16 42 1,114 Total 407 1,409 1,009 510 388 350 647 423 512 640 6,295
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe experimental aircraft programme is a technology demonstrator programme which will give practical experience in the integration of the wide range of new technologies required for new, sophisticated combat aircraft, including manufacture of large structural components in composite material, fly-by-wire technology and advanced avionics. The lessons learned from the programme will have application to many aspects of modern combat aircraft, including the European fighter aircraft.