asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has completed his consideration of the future rôle of the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee.

I have been in touch with the aircraft industry on a wide range of topics in the past year, and we have decided that this system of ad hoc consultation should continue in place of a formal committee structure. In the light of this I have agreed with the Society of British Aerospace Companies and other interested parties that the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee should be disbanded.