§ 35 and 36. Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Defence (1) if he will state in detail over which counties Royal Air Force and United States bombers armed with hydrogen bombs regularly fly; and to what extent their routes exclude built-up areas;
(2) if he will make a comprehensive statement on the reports received from Admiral Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission of the United States of America regarding crashed United States bombers which were carrying hydrogen bombs, stating whether any of these aircraft subsequently burst into flames, to what extent the hydrogen bomb was damaged, and if any radioactivity was released.
§ Mr. SandysWith permission, I will answer these Questions together.
§ Mr. MasonOn a point of order. I do not see why these two Questions should be coupled together. One concerns routes and areas of this country, and the other the reports from—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member should listen to the Answer, and then he will hear what it is.
§ Mr. SandysI think that the hon. Member will see that the Answer is pertinent to his Questions.
I have nothing to add to the very full Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 4th February.
§ Mr. MasonIs the Minister aware that the earth tremor which rocked the six Eastern Counties recently touched off fears that an American nuclear bomber had crashed; and indeed the Sculthorpe American air base was swamped with telephone calls from people fearing such a disaster? Does he really think it worth while to continue this potential threat to any aggressor when there is such a constant fear in the minds of people of this country? Further, if, as the Lord Privy Seal has consistently said in the house, there is no danger from a nuclear armed bomber crashing, why is it that American bombers have purposely dropped nuclear bombs in the Pacific and Atlantic when fearing a crash?
§ Mr. SandysIt is only my opinion, but I do not think there is so much alarm among the people of this country as hon. Members opposite would like to imagine.