HC Deb 05 November 1997 vol 300 cc255-6W
Mr. Blunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will invite tenders for the replacement of the next tranche of the RAF's transport fleet. [13134]

Mr. Spellar

The Request for Proposals was issued on 4 September 1997 to Airbus Industrie, Turkish Aerospace Industries and Alenia on a provisional basis pending the formation of Airbus Military Company (AMC). We are still discussing with partner nations how a competition between AMC and other aircraft manufacturers might be organised.