§ 38. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Supply which of the guided missiles, now designed and constructed in the United States of America, it is proposed to arrange to produce in this country; and when application to that end will be made to the Government of the United States of America.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Reginald Maudling)I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to his Question on 27th June, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. StokesThat was completely unsatisfactory, which is why I put down the Question again. Can the Minister say whether his intention is to endeavour to rationalise on these matters as between the N.A.T.O. Powers, and particularly as between ourselves and the United States, instead of wasting our manpower doing what has already been done across the ocean?
§ Mr. MaudlingI keep that point very much in mind. It is not quite so easy as it sometimes seems to manufacture in this country something designed in America. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that, if ever an opportunity presents itself where it is of practical value to make over here an American weapon, we shall not be deterred by what the Americans call a "not-invented-here" complex.
§ 39. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Supply how far it is the policy of his Department, with regard to guided missiles, to compete with our Allies or to pool designs and resources as far as possible with all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries, especially with the United States of America.
§ Mr. MaudlingAs regards co-operation with the United States, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to his Question on 3rd May last. So far as other N.A.T.O. countries are concerned, it is our policy to co-operate as far as we can, and arrangements have been made this year to provide in the United Kingdom courses of instruction in the basic principles of guided weapon design and operation for scientists from other N.A.T.O. countries.
§ Mr. StokesIs the Minister not aware that arrangements with the United States of America have recently been made so that what is called enriched uranium can be made available both to us and other European countries? As the next step to a warhead is not insuperably great, can he not give us a more positive assurance that something will be done to persuade the United States to be more co-operative in this matter?
§ Mr. MaudlingThis is a matter to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred before. I appreciate his interest in the matter, which is very important, as he says.