HC Deb 31 May 1961 vol 641 cc240-2
27. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Air what further consideration he has given to the development of vertical take-off and landing fighter-bombers and long-range bombers for the Royal Air Force.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. W. J. Taylor)

An operational requirement has been drawn up for a V.T.O.L. ground attack aircraft. Following the Minister of Defence's recent meeting with the German Minister of Defence, the hon. Member will have noted that there is to be joint development of an aircraft based upon the Hawker P1127. There are no plans to introduce a V.T.O.L. long-range bomber.

Mr. Cronin

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that vertical take-off and landing aircraft are the biggest advance since the development of the jet? Will he ensure that the Air Ministry is not dragging its feet any further in neglecting this completely new conception of air warfare?

Mr. Taylor

I appreciate that these developments are important, and that it takes a very long time indeed to develop aircraft on an entirely new principle, as these aircraft are, but I cannot accept the charge made by the hon. Gentleman that the Air Ministry is dragging its feet.

Mr. Rankin

Will the hon. Gentleman commend this decision to the Minister of Aviation, so that he may encourage similar developments in civil aviation?

Mr. Taylor

I think the hon. Gentleman had a Question on this subject recently which was devoted principally to the civil aviation aspect. I think he asked on that occasion that there should be a military requirement in order that a civil version could be developed from it. Now, there is a military requirement, and I have just said that the development contract is to be placed for that aeroplane. The question how that development takes place is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation.

Mr. Dudley Williams

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that this is a very complicated development, and that it is undesirable that he should pay any attention to the insinuations by the hon. Gentleman, whose supplementary—

Mr. Rankin

On a point of order. Is it in order to suggest that I was insinuating anything about anybody, Ministers or otherwise, in putting a perfectly plain supplementary question?

Mr. Speaker

Nothing out of order has occurred yet.

Mr. Dudley Williams

May I repeat that it would be very undesirable for my hon. Friend to pay any attention to the insinuations of the hon. Gentleman, because that would allow competitive development and not the rapid development which is required in this case?

Mr. Taylor

I take no exception whatever to what the hon. Gentleman said. I appreciate that this is an important development which will take time, and no fruitful field will be neglected in trying to achieve the best possible results.

Mr. Cronin

Will the hon. Gentleman at least bear in mind that the present vertical take-off and landing fighter was developed entirely by a private firm, without any operational requirement or any assistance until recently from the Air Ministry? Therefore, we cannot be assured by his statement that the Air Ministry will advance as far as possible with this project.

Mr. Taylor

The hon. Gentleman is under an entire misapprehension about this. I think he is referring to the SC1, which was developed by Short Brothers and Harland, of Belfast. While it was a very interesting project, it is designed for research into a technical principle, but it is not itself a military aircraft.