§ 9. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Canberra replacement to enter service.
§ The Minister of Defence for Equipment (Mr. John Morris)The tasks undertaken by the Canberras will be taken over by the Buccaneer and the Vulcan, which are already in service, and in the later 1970s by an advanced combat aircraft.
§ Mr. GoodhewIs the hon. Gentleman aware that had the TSR2 not been cancelled by the Government in a Budget statement it would have been in service this year, even on the Prime Minister's most pessimistic calculations? Is he satisfied that the R.A.F. can go on with no proper low-level all-weather strike capability, in view of the undertakings given by the Foreign Secretary and the threats to Russia in N.A.T.O. recently?
§ Mr. MorrisAs the House is well aware, this is well-trodden ground. The Royal Air Force would have preferred an aircraft like the TSR2 or the F111, but as a low-level strike aircraft the Buccaneer is very good indeed and represents a substantial advance on the Canberra, and the hon. Member should accept that.
§ Mr. Robert HowarthWhat is the estimated cost of providing an all-British Canberra replacement?
§ Mr. MorrisIf my hon. Friend is referring to the advanced combat aircraft, we are now in the middle of discussions on that, and I have nothing to add to the statement made recently by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.