§ 5. Mr. McMasterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to invite tenders from suitable United Kingdom shipyards during 1966 for the construction of one or more new aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.
§ 62. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the new aircraft carrier is to be laid down.
§ Mr. MayhewI suggest that the hon. Gentlemen should wait now for the White Paper which will shortly publish a progress report on the Defence Review.
§ Mr. McMasterWhy cannot the hon. Gentleman deal with this matter, when he can, apparently, deal with such matters as the Territorial Army and the aircraft industry, pending the Defence White Paper? How many more postponements of the Defence Review are there to be?
§ Mr. MayhewThe second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question does not arise on the Question. The first part was answered in the debate on the Territorial Army, when we explained the reasons why that particular question could be settled in isolation.
§ Mr. ShinwellWill my hon. Friend appreciate that very careful consideration is required on the subject of the new aircraft carrier or carriers because it might 1059 lead to a great deal of opposition from this side of the House?
§ Mr. MayhewIt certainly needs careful consideration, and it has not yet been decided.
§ Mr. Powellif we have to await the Defence Review for the answer to this Question, why did the hon. Gentleman tell the country in the middle of November last that Her Majesty's Government were about to come to a decision on increasing Britain's carrier force? What has gone wrong since then?
§ Mr. MayhewThe decision will be announced in the White Paper.