Future Large Aircraft

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the agreement finalised on 5 March 2010 between the Government and other European customer nations and EADS/Airbus Military in relation to the A400M military air transporter programme on the (a) number of jobs in, (b) level of skills in and (c) supply chain of the British aerospace sector; whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects of that agreement on other aspects of that sector; and if he will make a statement. (323671)

The Department's assessment is that A400M has directly created or secured work for 8,000 people in UK, principally through Airbus, GKN, Messier Dowty and Rolls-Royce; many of which are high-skilled jobs. There is also a primary supply chain to Airbus of around 30 UK based companies. There are 900 people employed directly on A400M at Filton.

On 5 March 2010, agreement in principle on the future of the A400M programme was reached by all parties. We believe that this agreement is positive for employment and skills within the UK.