HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 c414W
20. Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the procurement of the A400M aircraft. [138592]

Dr. Moonie

A400M partner nations announced on 27 July that they intend to procure, in an initial order, numbers of aircraft sufficient to launch the programme. We are pressing ahead with the programme, in co-operation with our partners, and continue to expect the aircraft to enter service with the Royal Air Force in the latter part of this decade.