§ 20. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on progress with the Anglicised version of the Phantom.
§ Mr. StonehouseA total of 170 Phantoms are on order for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. A number of technical problems arose in connection with the incorporation of a British engine and navigation/attack system in a United States airframe. I discussed these problems with the United States manufacturer at St. Louis last month and I am now hopeful that they are being overcome.
§ Mr. HastingsBut would not the Minister agree that this is due to incompatibility of equipment and provides further evidence, if it were needed, of the folly of cancelling our own military aircraft programme to rely on an international second best?
§ Mr. StonehouseNo. I am satisfied that this is the best way of meeting the R.A.F. requirements, and over 40 per cent. of the Phantom will be United Kingdom manufactured, producing some £80 million of orders for United Kingdom equipment in the next few years.
§ Sir D. RentonIs the Minister aware that the un-Anglicised version of the Phantom which operates over my con- 206 stituency makes about the worst noise ever produced by mankind? Will he see to it that if we are to have an Anglicised version it makes a less objectionable noise?
§ Mr. StonehouseI can give no such guarantee.
§ Mr. LubbockIn view of the fact that the F111 does not work, will the Minister consider cancelling that contract and replacing it by an increased order for the Phantom, which has such a high percentage of British content and which we are sure will prove to be a valuable addition to our forces?
§ Mr. StonehouseFrom personal experience, I am satisfied that the F111 works, and I am assured by the experts concerned that it meets R.A.F. requirements.