§ 7. Mr. Mellishasked the Minister of Defence if he is satisfied that the arrangements for the air defence of British Forces in the field overseas are adequate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SandysI am satisfied that the fighters and anti-aircraft artillery at present in service are adequate to provide protection against the present threat. In the future, the air defence of the Army will be further strengthened by the addition of surface-to-air guided missiles.
§ Mr. MellishIs it not a fact—we are talking, I hope, of not too long an engagement here—that we have only two batteries of the Thunderbird which at any one time could engage only four aircraft? Is the Minister really saying that this is satisfactory in possible conditions of modern war?
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Member has been reading the newspapers. Antiaircraft missiles for the Army are, so far, being issued for trials and training only. The number of units and the number of missiles per unit will be decided in the light of the results of these trials.
§ Mr. G. BrownIf the Minister thinks that we should not have to rely on newspapers for our defence information, would he care to suggest when it will be the case that our anti-aircraft defences overseas will be able to engage more than four aeroplanes at one time?
§ Mr. SandysThey are now.