While much of the focus was on St Athan, the UK Government also made the decision to upgrade the air transport fleet with A400M and A330 aircraft, replacing the Tristar and VC-10 from 2013.
So what effect will this have on Wales and the Airbus plant in Broughton?
Well, according to Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, thousands of Flintshire jobs could have been put in jeopardy if the Government had backed out of the contract as Mr Tami feared that the scrapping of the agreement could put future projects at risk.
In addition, the Flintshire Chronicle reported that, according to Mr Tami,
“The A400M is the best product for our armed forces and for the British taxpayer. It will help ensure the UK aerospace sector has a strong and purposeful future. The Government should do what is right for Britain and back the contract.”
Can we therefore now see headlines such as:
"Thousands of Welsh jobs saved by Government decision to buy military planes" or
"Local MP welcomes UK Government decision to secure future of Welsh Aerospace industry".
I thought not.
