HC Deb 20 April 1993 vol 223 cc168-9
3. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on the development and deployment of the medium surface-to-air missile.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr. Jonathan Aitken)

Work on the evaluation of medium surface-to-air missile tenders has now been completed and we are assessing the options in the context of our overall defence requirements. No decision has yet been made.

Mr. Kirkwood

Will the Minister acknowledge that, since the withdrawal of the Bloodhound missile in 1991, the United Kingdom has become one of the few NATO countries without access to medium surface-to-air missiles? He has said that Ministers have now completed their examination of the long-term costs of the development of new systems to replace the Bloodhound over the next 15 years. When will he be able to make an announcement? Does he accept that, if we do not secure a replacement within 15 years, it would be very foolish to deploy the Eurofighter without being able to protect it effectively with a missile system?

Mr. Aitken

I should point out that MSAM is not a replacement for the Bloodhound. It would provide part of a layered air defence for the United Kingdom, together with Rapiers and air defence fighters. I take account of the hon. Gentleman's point about the need for a next generation of missiles to protect the Eurofighter in certain circumstances. An announcement can be expected within the next few weeks.

Mr. Mans

Given that the RAF now has its full complement of air defence variant Tornados, is my hon. Friend satisfied with the state of British air defences?

Mr. Aitken

Yes, I confirm that we are satisfied with the state of Britain's air defences. We have made a continuing commitment to invest heavily in the United Kingdom's air defence capability in recent years: so far, we have spent well over £7 billion at 1992 prices, with more than £1 billion to come. We have well over 100 fighter aircraft and three Rapier squadrons, and we believe that they are more than adequate to meet the foreseeable threat of air attacks on the United Kingdom.

Mr. Foulkes

Will the Minister turn his attention to the proposed tactical air-to-surface missile? It would cost £3 billion and is an unnecessary addition to our nuclear capability. Will the Minister confirm last week's press reports that the Government have at last taken the Opposition's advice and rightly decided to cancel TSAM?

Mr. Aitken

Far from relying on the Opposition as a source of wisdom and advice, we regard many of their questions as coming from over-enthusiastic plumbers who race after every leak that appears in the press. The question is about MSAM; I will not be drawn in to the issue of TASM, beyond saying that no decision has yet been made.