§ 8. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department has now fully considered the potentialities of the N.A.39 aircraft; and if, with a few modifications, it will prove acceptable to the Royal Air Force.
Mr. WardI have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) on 30th June.
§ Mr. MasonHaving in mind the fact that the discussions are still proceeding on the operational requirements of the 339, and that, even if agreed upon, it would take between seven and ten years to produce it, would not it be advisable to accept the N.A.39 with slight modifications at present, while keeping the 339 in mind?
Mr. WardIt really is not possible to simplify the issue quite as much as that. There are so many factors to be considered—the tasks we foresee, the various ways in which they can be met, and the length of life of the Canberra, 921 which has still got quite a lot of useful life in it. The important thing is to get the right answer, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are giving the matter very careful study.
Mr. WardI should not like to be specific on that, but certainly the later marks of the Canberra have got several years of useful life.