Aircraft Industry

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 January 1975.

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Photo of Mr Tony Benn Mr Tony Benn , Bristol South East 12:00, 15 January 1975

There is no direct connection in the sense in which it might be interpreted. Clearly everyone in the industry and others know—I have made this clear in all the speeches that I have made to aircraft workers—that in the end an industry must survive on its market. There are at present problems concerning the world market although we believe that it will recover. The fuel crisis is especially affecting the aircraft market. I believe that the general effect will be to boost confidence in exactly the same way as it was possible for Rolls-Royce to go ahead with the—524 engine recently in circumstances that, in my judgment, would not have been possible if it had had to rely upon market financing.