HC Deb 23 February 1955 vol 537 c1254
9. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Minister of Defence the nature of the defence against air attack at night refered to in the White Paper on the Supply of Military Aircraft, Command Paper No. 9388.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The night fighter squadrons of the R.A.F. operating in conjunction with the early warning radar network and its corresponding ground control system.

Mr. Wyatt

As we have no guided missiles to replace Anti-Aircraft Command, and as we have no night-fighter with sufficient speed in hand to catch the Russian bomber in use at present, is it not thoroughly misleading to pretend to the nation that we have the best night-fighter defence in the world when all that is meant is that no one has a night fighter defence?

Mr. Macmillan

No, it is not misleading. The statements made in the White Paper were made after full consultation with those who could best advise me, and I profoundly believe them to be true.