HC Deb 20 March 1968 vol 761 c393
10. Mr. Robert Howarth

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order the design and development of a strike/reconnaissance aircraft which would replace the Canberra and certain V-bombers.

Mr. Healey

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend on 2nd February and the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence for Equipment in the Debate on 4th March.—[Vol. 757, c. 440: Vol. 760. c. 160–1.]

Mr. Howarth

Can my right hon. Friend indicate what is the very maximum length of time that his Department expects the Canberra to stay in service, and what is to happen after that date?

Mr. Healey

We always planned to keep one mark of the Canberra—the latest one, which came into service in the early 1960s, the PR9—some way into the 1970s.