HC Deb 05 July 1950 vol 477 cc454-5
17. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Air when the defences of Hong Kong will be strengthened by jet fighter aircraft.

Mr. Crawley

Certain fighter squadrons in the Far East are to be re-equipped with jet fighters, but it would not be in the national interest to disclose the date.

Air-Commodore Harvey

While appreciating what the hon. Gentleman says, may I ask if he realises that one squadron of jet fighters would be of tremendous help to the morale of everybody on the side of the Western Powers in the Far East at the present time?

Mr. H. Macmillan

Would not re-equipment have been easier if we had not sold so many jet fighters to other countries?

Mr. Crawley

As I pointed out to the right hon. Gentleman in the Debate on this subject, if we had not ordered those jet fighters for export they would not have been made at all.

Captain Crookshank

Surely the hon. Gentleman cannot mean that.