§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of support by the UK Government for the Airbus family of projects in each year since 1997–98(a) gross and (b) net after loan repayments. [188599]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Government are a strong supporter of Airbus and have provided financial support in the form of launch investment since 1984.
The payments by HMG to Airbus arid receipts from Airbus to HMG since 1997–98 are set out as follows:
(£ million actual) Payments Receipts 1997–98 0 85.4 1998–99 0 134.6 1999–2000 0 167.4 2000–01 0 119.7 2001–02 136 103.4 2002–03 139 88.7 2003–04 255 78.3