§ 1. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Defence whether he will instruct the service Departments to co-ordinate their policy on the procurement of helicopters to ensure that there is no waste over unnecessary duplication.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Nigel Birch)I have been asked to reply. This is done.
§ Mr. de FreitasIs it not a fact that the different Services have different types of helicopters when the uses to which they are put are not fundamentally different?
§ Mr. BirchObviously there are differences. The question of size, for instance, is much more important in a naval helicopter than in one used for the Air Force 406 or the Army. The policy in this matter is decided by the Minister of Defence, and all ordering is co-ordinated through the Ministry of Supply.
§ 3. Major Wallasked the Minister of Defence whether he will speed up the supply of dual-purpose anti-submarine troop-landing helicopters for use by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
§ Mr. BirchI have been asked to reply.
The supply of naval helicopters is proceeding satisfactorily.
§ Major WallWill my right hon. Friend agree that the Suez operation proved the value of helicopters both in the initial stages of the assault and in the buildup? Will he not agree that it would be better to have dual-purpose helicopters, and could he not arrange for the antisubmarine equipment to be taken out of existing helicopters when used for troop carrying?
§ Mr. BirchThe basic purpose of these helicopters is anti-submarine, but of course they pay an additional dividend. Obviously, the more we have the better; but they are very expensive.