James Gray MP presses for go-ahead on plane plan
Mr James Gray
MP for North Wiltshire
31st March 2009
North Wiltshire MP James Gray has told the Government to think again on whether to go ahead with the long-delayed A400M military transport aircraft. Speaking during Commons question time yesterday, Mr Gray suggested that the Government extend the life of the C130K Hercules aircraft based at RAF Lyneham. The Airbus-made A400M was meant to come into service in 2011 but has been hit by a series od delays, with the company's chief executive Thomas Enders now say the project might have to be scrapped altogether.

Defence Secretary John Hutton told MPs the delay was a matter of extreme regret that posed very serious questions about the future of the UK's military logistics capabilities. During Commons question time he said the Ministry of Defence was in talks with Airbus and European partners about the future of the contract, stressing the need to find a pretty rapid solution.

But Mr Gray said it was time to start rethinking the UK's entire policy with regards to transport aircraft and suggest extending the life of the C130K, or buying extra C-17 planes from Boeing. Mr Hutton replied: "We need to keep all of the options open. The delay in the A400M is a matter of extreme regret, poses very serious questions about the sustainability of our logistics services. We will not compromise with those. We are currently having discussions with partner nations to the A400M contract and with Airbus Militaire themselves. We have to find a pretty rapid solution to the problem, but one thing I can say to the House is, we will not be content with a gap in capabilities."