asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the Concorde production line.

The third and fourth production Concordes, which flew for the first time earlier this year, have been engaged in recent weeks in an intensive programme of endurance flying. The fifth and sixth aircraft are due for delivery to Air France and British Airways respectively in time for the simultaneous start of commercial services at the beginning of next year. Production of the remainder of the 16 authorised aircraft is well under way.