I suspect we are 'forgetting' the situation in N.Ireland at the time. Maggie's lot actually poured quite a bit of money into the province (other than security spend) as it was thought that if the majority of people were gainfully employed they would have less inclination to march and shoot and bomb each other.
But as in all Gover'mint acts it just did not work out - hence the Delorean fiasco and these poor irregularly shaped aircraft. And the Skyvan derivatives and a lot of very forgettable ships......