HC Deb 23 February 1959 vol 600 cc796-7
12. Mr. Mellish

asked the Minister of Supply what progress has been made with the development of the anti-tank guided weapon which was announced two years ago as being able to drive the tank from the battlefield.

Mr. Aubrey Jones

Considerable progress has been made in resolving the complex problems involved in this project.

Mr. Mellish

That is not a very satisfactory reply. We were told that this programme was launched two years ago. Can we have any idea when we are likely to have such a gun?

Mr. Jones

It is true that the project was mentioned two years ago, but in the realm of new guided missiles two years is a very short time. I would be wrong to endeavour to conceal from the hon. Gentleman that this project is a most complicated and difficult one.

Mr. Mellish

But is it not extraordinary that at the same time as we are producing a light tank we are producing a weapon that can destroy it?

Mr. Jones

Again, with the greatest respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think he has misinterpreted the words of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air a couple of years ago. This weapon is designed to displace the heavy tank in its defensive rôle of killing other tanks. It has not displaced the tank in its offensive rôle.

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