HC Deb 13 December 1961 vol 651 cc438-9
29. Mr. McMaster

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the aircraft carrier building programme for the Royal Navy.

31. Mr. Willis

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been made concerning the replacement of the existing fleet of aircraft carriers.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

I have nothing to add to my Answer of 12th July to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall). No decision has yet been taken about aircraft carrier replacements.

Mr. McMaster

In thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, I should like to ask him if, in view of the severe recession at the moment in the shipbuilding industry and also in view of the falling number of British bases overseas, he will expedite the consideration of the replacement of our aircraft carriers.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

We are certainly considering replacement, but there is no need to make a decision just yet awhile.

Mr. Willis

Will the hon. Gentleman inform the House when this decision is made, in view of the very enormous cost involved in this?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I note that.

Mr. Bence

When he takes the decision to start replacing the aircraft carriers in the Fleet, will the hon. Gentleman keep in mind that in Scotland we have some of the largest berths in Europe for building and launching very large ships?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Yes, and we shall also bear in mind that there are £24 million worth of naval ships being built on Clydeside just now; that there have been £27 million worth built in the last ten years in Ulster, and that there are rival claims from my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) as well.

Dame Irene Ward

Hear, hear.