To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement concerning applications for grant aid for the A340–600 aircraft project by British Aerospace. [16098]

No final decision has yet been taken on the application from British Aerospace for launch aid in respect of the A340–500/600 project. Discussions with the company are continuing.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the United Kingdom aerospace industry of not providing Launch Aid in connection with British Aerospace's involvement in the Airbus A340–500 and 600 projects. [17278]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) today.My Department has been considering the impact on the UK aerospace industry of its decision on launch aid, as part of its detailed appraisal of British Aerospace's application.