HC Deb 11 July 1955 vol 543 cc1559-61
23. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the delays in delivering the Gloster Javelin all-weather fighter to the Royal Air Force, he will make a statement.

25. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the future of the Javelin fighter.

26. Mr. Wigg

asked the Minister of Supply the rate of delivery of Javelin aircraft to the Royal Air Force; and whether he will make a statement on the performance of those Javelin aircraft now in use by the Royal Air Force.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Defence stated on 2nd March that on the best technical advice our reasonable expectation was that the Javelin should become available in substantial numbers during the coming year. Since then further progress has been made with the development problems to which he referred, and I have no reason to depart from his estimate. It has been decided to reduce the number of Javelins of the earliest mark to be supplied and to order more of the later marks with better performance. Her Majesty's Government believe that the balance of advantage for the Royal Air Force lies in making this change. Deliveries to the Royal Air Force have not yet begun. The total number of aircraft on order will remain the same and delivery of the whole order should be completed within the original period of time.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Is it not true that the delays regarding these aircraft were exceptional, because too few prototypes were ordered by the last Labour Government? Will my right hon. Friend agree that there are exceptional delays regarding other types of aircraft beside this type? Will he consult his predecessor to see what steps can be taken to avoid delays of this kind in the future?

Mr. Maudling

I am consulting constantly with my predecessor on the question of methods of speeding up the development of aircraft. It is true that there have been three crashes of Javelin prototype aircraft, and there is no doubt that if more prototypes had been ordered development would have gone much quicker.

Mr. Rankin

The Minister has said that delivery for squadron service will take place——

Mr. Maudling indicated dissent.

Mr. Rankin

It is for squadron service, as I understand it. But will the Minister make clear this point: it is over a year since the first of these machines came off the production line; we are told now that they will be delivered for service within a year; is that the calendar year or the financial year, and are they then going into squadron service?

Mr. Maudling

I was confirming the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Defence on 2nd March, which refers to the financial year.

Mr. Wigg

Before the right hon. Gentleman accepts the implication of his hon. Friend's supplementary question, would he be good enough to say why no reference was made to the difficulties about the Javelin aircraft in the White Paper which was published in the early part of this year? As I understand his answer, no deliveries have been made to the Royal Air Force, but I take it that some deliveries have been made to his Department. May I therefore take it that the supersonic bang the other night was part of the publicity campaign by his Department to impress the public with the fact that this aircraft can fly at supersonic speeds when going down hill?

Mr. Speaker

There is another Question about the bang on the Order Paper.

Mr. Maudling

The hon. Member will have a chance of putting his innuendo later on.