§ 30. Mr. PikeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has held in the last year in respect of research and development in the United Kingdom in the aerospace industry. [559]
§ Mr. Greg KnightMy Department has held a wide range of discussions in the last year in respect of research and development in the United Kingdom aerospace industry. These discussions include: ministerial meetings with the Society of British Aerospace Companies and individual companies, meetings involving the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and the Technology Foresight Defence and Aerospace Panel, discussions with the Ministry of Defence and Defence Research Agency and discussions with companies about research and development projects under the Department's civil aircraft research and demonstration programme.