CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 306

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technological position as a whole of maintaining an advanced aircraft

industry, and the implications for the future of that industry of

Cancelling Concord, should be initiated and completed in time for

consideration with the revised cost estimates for Concord which would

be available in December. It must be recognised however that such an examination would not necessarily produce clear cut conclusions and that in the end decisions might have to be the result of judgment on individual projects. In the meantime it would be important to avoid

any commitments to industry about our attitude to the organisation of

the aircraft industry and also that, in the discussions which would take place with French officials about the Concord in the next two

months, every effort should be made to ensure a stringent and factual

assessment of the prospects for the aircraft.

In further discussion it was suggested that more detailed study

was needed of the restrictions on the utilisation of the Concord which

would result from its high runway loading, and on the probable consequences, both in terms of sales and of the cost to other countries

of strengthening their runways in order to receive Concord.

In the

THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up, said that no decision on whether to

proceed with the Concord project or to approach General de Gaulle about its technical and economic prospects could be taken until the revised

estimate of the cost of development was received in December.

meantime, he would consider the appointment of a Ministerial Committee to

study the importance to our industrial and technological position generally of maintaining an advanced aircraft industry in this country, the optimum programme for this industry, the place of Concord in the programme, and the consequences for the future of the aircraft industry as a whole of

Cancelling the Concord. This study should be completed if possible, by late December or early January.

The Committee

(1) Took note that the Prime Minister would give further

consideration to the appointment of a Ministerial Committee to review the aircraft industry on the lines indicated in his summing up.

(2)

Agreed to resume their discussion when the revised cost

estimate of the Concord development, and the assessment of the future of the aircraft industry were available.

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