§ 47. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Air how many V-bombers will require adapting to enable them to use the Skybolt; and whether new types of bomber aircraft will be constructed for this purpose.
Mr. WardOn the first part of the Question, I am not prepared to disclose numbers. On the second part, our Skybolt force will for a number of years consist exclusively of V-bombers.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs it not possible to get any information out of this Government at all? Did not the right hon. Gentleman make reference to this subject in the course of the debate on the Air Estimates and speak about the need for adapting our bombers to the use of the Skybolt? Surely I can ask him how many adaptations are to take place? Cannot I ask him what the cost will be, and whether we will construct new bombers, and what type they are? Can we not get any information about these matters?
Mr. WardI am prepared to answer any question if the answer does not give away what I regard to be important security matters. I have never disclosed, and I never will disclose, in this House the actual numbers of the proposed Skybolt front line, or, indeed, the numbers of the V-bomber front line. It is secret information, and I shall not disclose it.
§ Mr. ShinwellBut did not the Secretary of State for Air, in the course of the debate to which I have referred, explicitly say that the V-bombers would require adaptation? If he said that, cannot I ask how many there are—
§ Mr. ShinwellWith great respect, Mr. Speaker, it is not what hon. Members opposite think I should ask but what I think I should ask. In view of the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman about the adaptation of these planes, cannot I ask him what percentage of the V-bombers are to be adapted? Surely, that is a perfectly reasonable question.
§ Mr. G. BrownWould not the Minister's answer be better put like this: "As I do not know whether there will be a Skybolt ever, I have no clue"? Is not that what he should have said?