§ 7 and 8. Mr. Stracheyasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has stated the Army's requirements for vertical take-off and landing aircraft to the Ministry of Aviation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he has yet stated the Army's requirements for helicopters to 492 the Ministry of Aviation; and whether, under the new arrangements, this requirement has the approval of the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. SoamesLight helicopters are in service with the Army Air Corps; and for several years Royal Air Force helicopters have supported the Army in military operations in Malaya, Cyprus and elsewhere.
More extensive use is to be made of short take-off aircraft and helicopters, for the tactical lift of men and equipment in forward areas. Proposals for extra aircraft, which have been agreed with the Ministry of Defence, have been put forward.
§ Mr. StracheyWill these proposals include the Fairey Rotodyne, which, we understand, has been accepted as an Army requirement? If so, will the Secretary of State see that no private firm is allowed to stand in the way of the early and prompt fulfilment of the Army's requirement in this respect?
§ Mr. SoamesWe state our requirements to the Ministry of Aviation and it is for that Department and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation to have dealings with the firm concerned.
§ Mr. StracheyWill not the Secretary of State make representations to his right hon. Friend that the Army must be satisfied promptly in this matter?
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. Friend and I know exactly what we both think about it.