asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the amount of money provided to British Airways to facilitate the purchase of Concorde.

Money to meet the net capital requirements of its approved investment programme has been progressively provided to British Airways within the framework described to the House on 25th May 1972. Specifically, British Airways estimate that they will have made payments in respect of Concorde aircraft and associated support items amounting to £65 million by the end of February 1976 when the second of the five Concordes they have ordered will have been delivered.