asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the research and development cost of Concorde (a) in total and (b) the proportion paid by the Government.

The latest estimate of the manufacturers' development costs in Britain and France, as given to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State on 25th March 1975, is £1,096 million, calculated at January 1975 economic conditions. It is expected that approximately 50 per cent. will be paid by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans have been formulated for the use of the production facilities at the end of the current production of Concorde.

These are matters for the companies concerned to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many Concorde planes he expects to be sold during 1976; what is the current cost; and how much is being charged on each sale to recover research development costs.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 9th February, a number of airlines have expressed an interest in Concorde, and good progress has been made for the sale of two Concordes to Iranair. The average cost of building each of the first 16 aircraft is estimated to be about £30 million, although the cost of individual aircraft depends on a number of factors, such as the date of build and specification. As my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Industry made clear in his statement of 18th March 1974, none of the development costs will be recovered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the technological benefits derived from the research and development of Concorde.

The development and production of Concorde has required much original research into the hitherto unexplored problems associated with supersonic flight of large aircraft. The research has yielded technologically important results in the use of computers in design and production applications, the design and use of machine tools, automatic welding techniques, electrical and electronic display techniques, high performance lubricants, and in the technology of paints, glass, plastics and non-ferrous metals, particularly improved strength alloys.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how he regards the high fuel consumption of Concorde as against subsonic jets, in the light of his "Save It" campaign; and if he will make a statement.

I consider the fuel consumption of Concorde is in no way excessive when viewed in the light of its overall performance and the speed advantages which it offers. Concorde consumes no more fuel per passenger-mile than many executive jets in common use; and its fuel consumption will be insignificant in overall terms.