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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The British Industry secretary, Anthony Wedgwood Benn met the French Secretary of State for Transport, Aymar Achille-Fould in Paris on Friday (29 March) to begin a thorough reappraisal of the Concorde Supersonic Airliner project which both countries have financed.

The meeting represents a crucial step in planning the aircraft's future. So far the project has cost GBP 1,000 million and has resulted in the sale of only nine of the aircraft - all to French and British state airlines.

The French side put forward its proposal for modifying Concorde's fuel tanks to increase its range to attract airlines that may be wavering over buying the plane. Britain is noskeen on the modifications which would coast an estimated GBP 40 million.

When reporters in Paris asked Mr. Benn before the meeting if Britain's new Labour government wanted to abandon Concorde, he gave no direct reply. The budget statement on March 26 made it clear that the new government will not allocate any more funds after the present development and production programme is complete.

SYNOPSIS: Paris, where crucial talks between the British and French could decide the fate of the Concorde airliner. The British Secretary of Industry, Anthony Wedgwood Benn, began talks on Friday with the French Secretary of State for Transport, Aymar Achille-Fould. The new British government made it clear in the budget statement that no more funds will be allocated to Concorde after the present development and production programme is complete.

The project, which is financed by both countries, has so far cost one thousand million pounds. Only nine of the Supersonic airliners have been sold - all to either British or French state airlines. Modifications proposed by the French side to sell more, would cost another forty million pounds.