§ 30. Mr. G. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the statement, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Belper, by the United States Ballistic Missile Division Commander responsible for the installation of Thor missiles in Great Britain, to the effect that the first Thor-equipped squadron would be fully ready in this country in February, and that a few missiles were expected to blow up on the stand, to what extent it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that such missiles delivered for use by the Royal Air Force shall be used for training purposes only; and what action he is taking to guard against missiles blowing up on the stand.
§ 32. Mr. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Air why he has accepted Thor missiles from the United States Air Force before they have passed satisfactory tests.
Mr. WardThe missiles delivered to the R.A.F. up to date are for training purposes only. The trials taking place in America are proceeding most satisfactorily, and any modifications found necessary will be made before the weapons are passed for operational use.
The reference by General Schriever to rockets blowing up on the stand has been quoted out of context and referred to failures in the early research and development stage in America. No weapon of the type delivered to us has blown up on the stand.
§ Mr. BrownI am relieved to hear that it has not blown up on the stand yet, but is the Secretary of State for Air aware that General Schriever in fact said, "Of course we expect to have a few missiles blown up on the stand"? He 194 was not referring to past performance but to future expectations. Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to take upon himself the guarantee that this will not happen?
The more important question I want to put is this: the right hon. Gentleman keeps on referring in this House to these missiles being for training purposes only. The American general responsible for their installation here has gone back home, has quoted the number—rather more than 60—as being established here, and has used the words "They will be fully ready by February". "Fully ready" must mean operationally, so does not the Minister feel he is beginning to be convicted of dissembling in this matter?
Mr. WardThe only thing that is happening is that the right hon. Gentleman is convicting himself of not knowing what he is talking about. There are nothing like 60 here. Assembling means putting on their pads. There will be some ready on their pads in the middle of February, as the general said. Finally, there is no question of any danger of their blowing up on their pads.
§ Mr. BrownI may well not know what I am talking about, unlike the right hon. Gentleman, but the American general, who should know, said that each squadron will have 15 missiles here by next month. The right hon. Gentleman has told us that there will be four squadrons. Apparently we are all incapable of making four times 15 into 60. Is the right hon. Gentleman now saying that the American general was stating an untruth in saying this? Why does the right hon. Gentleman keep on insisting that the missiles which are placed here are for training purposes only, when one cannot train with Thor missiles because the only place they can hit is America, unless one wants to hit Russia?
Mr. WardI find it impossible to believe that the American general said that 60 missiles would be here by next February.