§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the AV-8B aircraft, in the light of the United States House of Representatives Armed Service Committee's decision to withdraw funding for the programme.
§ Mr. SainsburyA decision on the future of the AV-8B aircraft is a matter for the United States Government.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he or his officials have had with officials of the Department of Defence in the United States of America and with members of the United States Congress 64W on the future of United States-United Kingdom collaboration in aircraft production, in the light of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee's decision to end funding of the AV-8B programme.
§ Mr. SainsburyMy noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Ministry of Defence officials have had a variety of discussions with the United States Department of Defence and members of the United States Congress about what would be the implications for transAtlantic collaboration in general and for the particular programme of collaboration on the procurement of the AV-8B for the United States Marine Corps and the Harrier GR Mk 5 for the Royal Air Force if a decision were to be taken to end funding of AV-8B production. Congressional consideration of this matter is of course not yet complete.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many AV-8B aircraft have been ordered; what are the planned delivery dates; and what contingency plans exist for their disposal in the event of the cancellation of the programme by the United States Congress.
§ Mr. SainsburyThese are matters for the United States Government; but I understand that orders for 328 AV-8B aircraft (including trainers) are planned, that 86 aircraft have been delivered to date and that the delivery of the remainder should be completed by the mid-1990s.