§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the direct or indirect support given to the Boeing Aircraft Corporation by the United States Government through research contracts, whether military, space or civil, by ordinary or special tax relief, or by any other means; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe American competitors of Airbus, of which Boeing is one, continue to derive benefit from a wide range of Government support, including public contracts and publicly funded programmes. According to consultancy estimates available to the Government last year, the combined aeronautics R and D expenditure by the United States Department of Defence, NASA and the Department of Transportation over the last 15 years exceeds $47.5 billion. In addition, tax concessions associated with the switch to foreign sales corporations are estimated to have benefited Boeing by $397 million. My Department keeps the position under close review.