HC Deb 08 July 1959 vol 608 cc1339-40
24. Mr. Wigg

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of helicopters available for use by the Armies represented in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, respectively.

Mr. Soames

No, Sir. I am not at liberty to give such information.

Mr. Wigg

I can understand the right hon. Gentleman's diffidence about giving answers to Questions on security grounds, but will he give the House an assurance that there is no security element here to keep from the House and the public the basic facts of the difficult situation, to put it mildly, in which the Army finds itself in regard to the supply of helicopters?

Mr. Soames

Certainly, I can give that assurance. I cannot give the details of what the other armies have, because that information is not provided by our friends to give away to the public. I can say that we have made a great deal of use of helicopters recently in Malaya and Cyprus, and that they are operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. That does not mean that they are any less available to the Army for operations.

Mr. Shinwell

While we can understand the security reasons for refusing information about material in the possession of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, what is the security reason for not furnishing information about material in possession of the Soviet Union? Is there any security there?

Mr. Soames

I must say that I am really astonished at that coming from the right hon. Gentleman, who has been Minister of Defence, who seems to think that it would be a good idea to announce in public what information we might have succeeded in obtaining from that country.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, and will he look up the record to ascertain the facts about the matter, that when Questions were asked about material in the possession of the Soviet Union when I was Minister of Defence it was furnished to the House? Will he look up the record?

Mr. Soames

I will look up the record with great interest, but I had always thought that the right hon. Gentleman was a rather good Minister of Defence.

Mr. Peyton

Is my right hon. Friend aware, as I am sure he must be, that there are now developments of large helicopters, which have been well and thoroughly tested, which are capable of lifting quite a substantial number of troops and heavy weights as well? Will he give consideration to what has been done in this country?

Mr. Soames

I can assure my hon. Friend that consideration is being given to it.