§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the UK aerospace industry about the development costs of the A400M; and if he will make a statement; [150218]
(2) what discussions he has had with his European counterparts about the funding to Airbus Military for the development costs of the A400M; and if he will make a statement. [150219]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 13 February 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had no recent discussions with representatives of the UK aerospace industry or with his European counterparts on the development cost of the A400M. Officials have met with a number of companies recently, including Dowty Aerospace Propellers of Cheltenham, with which this issue was discussed. The negotiations which we and our partner nations are having with Airbus Military are on the basis of a commercial approach for a single phase development and production programme. Such an approach, coupled with open competition, does not involve a separate contracted development phase or access to detailed cost information.