Air Defence (Hansard, 17 March 1981)

§ 4. Mr. Robert Atkins
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the current state of United Kingdom air defence.

§ Mr. Speed
No. Sir. Although we are undertaking a substantial programme of improvements which will greatly enhance our air defence capability, there can be no room for complacency about this, or any other aspect of our defences.

§ Mr. Atkins
I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments. Does he not think that an early decision on AV8B, and some urgency in the decision that needs to be taken on the European combat aircraft, would go a long way towards giving peace of mind both to hon. Members and to other people in the country?

§ Mr. Speed
The AV8B is one of the options for the RAF. As my hon. Friend will have heard, my right hon. Friend had encouraging discussions with the United States last week. The attitude of the United States to the AV8B is extremely important. This is an option on which I hope we can reach a decision as soon as possible, but many important industrial and operational considerations are involved for the RAF.

§ Mr. Maclennan
Although one recognises the need for training in low flying, does the Minister accept that over-concentration of these exercises in small areas, such as Caithness, which are densely populated, leads to considerable indignation? Will he ask his hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the RAF, with whom I have been in correspondence about this, to end the practice of low flying by the RAF over the village of Watten, particularly over the local school?

§ Mr. Speed
I note what the hon. Gentleman says, and I shall draw my hon. Friend's attention to it. We try to vary the paths as much as possible, but, as the hon. Gentleman will know, it is important, for both operational and safety considerations, that our pilots get this practice.

§ Mr. Churchill
Bearing in mind that there are now more than 3,000 Fencer, Fitter and Flogger aircraft in the infantry of Soviet frontal aviation, all with the capability of striking these shores, and that there is therefore a serious possibility that up to a third could be tasked on the United 186 Kingdom, which has barely 70 aircraft for its entire air defence, is it not a matter of urgency for the Government to take a decision on the replacement programme for the Harrier and the Jaguar?

§ Mr. Speed
I have already spoken about the importance of AV8B. The other matters are under consideration by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force and my right hon. Friend, but I cannot give an answer this afternoon.

§ Mr. Snape
I congratulate the Minister on his additional portfolio. Will the air defence of this country be increased or retarded by the gap between the phasing out of Shackleton and the introduction of Nimrod? Is that not yet another example of the realities of Government taking over from the bluster of Opposition?

§ Mr. Speed
As has been said, it takes one to recognise one. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force referred to airborne early warning on 17 February. At present, he is on his way, with the head of defence sales, to represent the British aircraft industry at an important and major sales exhibition in Delhi. I am sure that the whole House will wish both him and British industry success in selling our equipment in that important market.