§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the bid price of(a) Pratt and Whitney Canada and (b) the Europrop consortium for the engine contract for the A400M aircraft is; and if she will make a statement. [113988]
§ Alan JohnsonThe engine bid prices are a commercial matter between Airbus Military and the two engine manufacturers concerned.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evaluation she has carried out of the costs and benefits to the UK economy of the proposed financial support to develop the A400M engine; and if she will publish the results. [113989]
§ Alan JohnsonHMG has, through DTI, indicated a willingness to provide a grant to Rolls Royce for its dual-use engine technology demonstration programmes. That grant is subject to the usual authorisation procedures, but I would expect the benefits to the UK economy to include an uplift in the competitiveness of the UK aerospace industry base through, for example, the introduction of new UK resident engine technology, an increase in the skills base at Rolls Royce and the development of new, or sustaining of existing, jobs in the company. Some of these issues will be commercially sensitive for the company and I therefore have no plans to make public the results of the evaluation.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company officials and officials of its subsidiary companies concerning the project to build the A400M transportation aeroplane; and if she will make a statement. [113990]
§ Alan JohnsonDTI maintains close links with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) on a range of UK and European aerospace and defence issues. Airbus (owned 80 per cent. by EADS and 20 per cent. by BAES) will be the builder of the A400M,318W and in that context, this Department has maintained a dialogue over a range of issues related to this programme and the benefits it brings for UK industry.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Euro-Prop International Consortium concerning the project to build the Airbus A400M aircraft; and if she will make a statement. [113991]
§ Alan JohnsonDTI has taken a close interest in UK industrial participation in the A400M programme and maintains close links with the main UK industrial stakeholders on a wide number of issues relating to this programme, including the engine selection. This includes Rolls Royce, who are part of the Euro-Prop International consortium.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with members of the Government of the United States of America concerning the project to build the Airbus A400M aircraft. [113992]
§ Alan JohnsonNone.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with members of the Governments of(a) France,(b) Germany and (c)Spain concerning the project to build the Airbus A400M aircraft, with special reference to the decision by the UK Government to subsidise the development of an engine for the aircraft. [113993]
§ Alan JohnsonThe DTI maintains a regular dialogue with the main governmental stakeholders in Airbus (France, Germany and Spain) on a wide range of issues relating to Airbus and its programmes. DTI officials have discussed the UK Governments willingness, subject to the usual authorisation procedures being met, to provide a grant for dual-use engine technology demonstration programmes relating to the engine for A400M with their German counterparts.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with Pratt and Whitney concerning the project to build the Airbus A400M aircraft. [113994]
§ Alan JohnsonNone.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds the Government has pledged to(a) Rolls-Royce UK and (b) other British engineering companies to assist in the development of an engine for the Airbus A400M aircraft; what payments have been (i)made and (ii) pledged to date to each company; when; and if she will make a statement. [113995]
§ Alan JohnsonHMG, through DTI, has indicated a willingness, subject to the usual authorisation procedures, to provide a grant to Rolls Royce for its dual use (civil/military) engine technology demonstration programmes.
The size of any grant provided by the DTI for aeronautical research is determined when the proposal is agreed and will not exceed 50 per cent. of the total eligible technology demonstration programme costs. No payment has yet been made.
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§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government have received regarding their financial support for the development of the A400M engine from World Trade Organisation partners; and if she will make a statement. [114584]
§ Alan JohnsonNone.