§ 7. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how the Royal Air Force needs for a tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft are to be met when the Canberra is phased out.
§ 46. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to provide aircraft to replace those F111K aircraft that were destined for an operational role in a European theatre of war.
§ Mr. HealeyI have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 2nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth).—[Vol. 757, c. 440]
§ Mr. OnslowWould it not be more straightforward for the Minister to admit that the R.A.F. will no longer be able to meet these needs? Does he not see that his rectitude and honour might be more highly valued in the country if he were to resign?
§ Mr. HealeyThe hon. Gentleman was no doubt present during the debate when we discussed both questions to which he has referred. He will be aware that the Government had a larger majority on that occasion than on many recent occasions.
§ Mr. RamsdenThe right hon. Gentleman, on 25th January, said:
Our air forces will certainly require some reshaping to make up for the loss" —[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th January, 1968; Vol. 757, c. 629.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We cannot have quotations in a Question.
§ Mr. RamsdenIf I may comment on what was said—
§ Mr. SpeakerWould the right hon. Gentleman put his question?
§ Mr. RamsdenWhat did the right hon. Gentleman mean by saying that our air forces would require some reshaping to make up for the loss of the F111?
§ Mr. HealeyAs I made clear in the debate to which I have just referred, the loss of the capability for deep strike and reconnaissance during the 'seventies will require some adjustment in the shaping of our forces in various respects; but I am not prepared at this moment to say precisely how those forces will be reshaped. It may well be that the net saving, which might otherwise have been achieved by the cancellation of the F111, will be somewhat reduced by the consequential reshaping of the Air Force.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long the V-bombers will have to remain in service as a result of the reshaping?
§ Mr. HealeyI do not believe that the reshaping of the air Force will require the V-bombers to remain longer in service than would otherwise have been the case.