§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will detail the functions of his Department in relation to the civil and military aircraft industry.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe full range of the Department's services to industry is available to the United Kingdom aircraft industry. The Department's air task force is responsible for sponsoring the industry and ensuring that the industry's views are fully taken into account by Government and in the course of international negotiations. It manages the civil aircraft research and demonstration programme, which provided £25 million in 1991–92 to help the industry maintain its technological base. The task force is also responsible for appraising applications for launch aid.