HC Deb 22 January 1958 vol 580 cc1030-1
18. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many flights over Great Britain have been made by Royal Air Force aeroplanes carrying hydrogen bombs; when such flights commenced; and to what extent they are still continuing.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

I would refer the hon. Member to the information given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in answer to a supplementary question from the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 5th December. It would not be in the public interest to give more detailed information.

Mr. Swingler

Why should not the House of Commons know, as these things have been advertised very widely by the Prime Minister himself, what, in fact, is happening? Is this not a lunatic policy? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is serious dispute among scientists about the possibility of a disastrous accident occurring if one of these planes crashed, and, therefore, is it not time that action was taken to stop this panic?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

No, Sir.

Mr. Shinwell

In the interests of security, I will not ask the hon. Gentleman for details, but can he answer the simple question—are Royal Air Force aeroplanes carrying hydrogen bombs, atom bombs or any kind of bombs during training flights over this country?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said on this matter. My right hon. Friend chose his words most carefully and I do not think that it would be in the public interest to tell our potential enemies just when or where we are carrying these bombs.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that I am not asking for details of where or when, but merely whether, in fact, our aircraft carry bombs during training flights over this country?

Mr. de Freitas

Will the Under-Secretary at least agree to report to his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air the terms of my right hon. Friend's question, which is a simple question and does not ask for the full details or anything like that? Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to do that?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Of course, I will report to my right hon. Friend the supplementary question asked. My right hon. Friend will study the points made most carefully and he will be answering Questions first next week.

Mr. Shinwell

This is a very important matter, and as I see no need for secrecy, at any rate on the general issue, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman can say whether the Soviet Union is unaware of the fact that Royal Air Force aircraft are carrying bombs during training flights over this country?