§ 38. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of ordering the F111A aircraft from the United States in sufficient quantity to fulfil existing defence obligations east of Suez.
§ Mr. HealeyThe flexibility of air power means that in calculating numbers of any aircraft and, in consequence, costs, we can allow for the ability to reinforce quickly from the U.K. or between overseas theatres. It is not, therefore, meaningful to look at any one particular area in isolation from the rest.
§ Mr. JenkinsDoes my right hon. Friend agree that if the cost of carrying out the present obligations was beyond the resources of this country the right thing to do would be to review the obligations rather than to overstrain our resources?
§ Mr. HealeyI certainly agree about that. That is one of the reasons why the 152 Government are carrying out the defence review.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyCan the Minister confirm that the F111A, which he mentioned in the summer, is for training purposes only, and does not measure up to the requirements of a replacement for the TSR2?
§ Mr. HealeyNo. The F111A, on which the Government have an option, which they have not yet decided whether to exercise, is an operational aircraft of exactly the same nature as the United States Air Force is planning to introduce, and in all respects it is comparable with the TSR2.
§ Mr. PowellCan the Minister say which is likely to happen first—the announcement of the Government's decision to purchase this aircraft or the running-out of the option at the end of the year?
§ Mr. HealeyThe former.