§ 21. Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of State for Defence what measures he proposes to take to improve the effectiveness of Great Britain's air defences.
§ Lord LambtonThe improving of our effectiveness is a continuing process and I have nothing to add at present to what I told the House in the Air Estimates debate on 2nd March.—[Vol. 832, c. 774–5.]
§ Mr. WilkinsonWhile thanking my noble Friend for that reply, may I remind him that the number of live intercepts carried out by No. 11 Fighter Group of Strike Command last year was the highest in recent years and that Strike Command also has responsibility for defending the Fleet at sea? Will he do his best to augment the number of fighter aircraft available to the Royal Air Force?
§ Lord LambtonAgain, one would be anxious to do this, but one must take into consideration the ceiling of the budget to which one is working.