§ 5. Mr. Doddsasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many helicopters and what types are in service with the Royal Navy; and what orders have been placed to increase the helicopter strength.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasThere are approximately 100 helicopters in service in the Royal Navy, some of which are American types supplied under the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme. The types in service are the Dragonfly, Hiller and Whirlwind. Approximately another 100 helicopters, all of them British, are on order for the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. DoddsIn congratulating the First Lord of the Admiralty on the outstanding enterprise of his Department in pioneering helicopters, may I ask him to bear in mind that the United States Navy is proposing to hand over an aircraft carrier for helicopters for assault purposes, and will he give careful consideration to this aspect of the matter?
§ Mr. ThomasYes. I should like to thank the hon. Member for what he said about my Department. We have shown intense interest in helicopters from the start, and I shall certainly bear in mind what he tells me about the American aircraft carrier.