HL Deb 11 December 1963 vol 253 cc1200-2

2.38 p.m.

THE EARL OF SANDWICH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the test of a new low-level air-launched missile to supersede Blue Steel.]

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, there have been no tests on a new missile to supersede Blue Steel. In recent tests, however, Blue Steel itself has been successfully launched at low level at Woomera.

THE EARL OF SANDWICH

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend by how many years it is expected that the life of the V-bomber force will be extended as a result of the Blue Steel capability which is now revealed by the discovery of this new weapon?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I should not like to go too closely into precise years, but I think it has been made quite clear to your Lordships' House on previous occasions that we certainly envisage that the V-bomber force will be operational until the Polaris submarine force comes into operation. The development to which my noble friend's Question was addressed is one of the special measures being taken to improve the operational capacity of V-bombers during this period.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl, in view of the Answer he has given, whether it is the Government's intention to modify the V-bombers so that they may become low-level attack aircraft?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I should prefer not to give an off-the-cuff reply to the noble Lord's question. If he would put a Question down on that subject, I will then answer it.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, may I ask whether or not the experiments which have been carried out with Blue Steel have actually been done with other than the V-bomber force?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, when the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition reads the Answer which I gave to my noble friend on this Question I think he will see that his Question was answered there.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, did not the noble Earl say that the new low-level or launched missile was to be used by the V-bomber force? Was it not intended that such a missile should be used by the TSR 2?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I am sorry, but I did not quite catch what the noble Lord said.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, I am surprised to hear that the V-bomber force is to have the advantage of this new missile. Is it the case that it is not intended for the TSR 2?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I am certain that if it is suitable for the V-bomber force it will be equally suitable for the TSR 2. If there is a technical difficulty here, which I discern from the noble Lord's supplementary, I shall be glad to answer it if he will put down a specific Question.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, is it not fairly obvious that if we are going to use V-bombers at low level they will be shot to pieces?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think the Answer to the noble Earl's supplementary is definitely, No.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, could the noble Earl say whether he is getting confused with the old Mark II Blue Steel, which, like so many weapons, has already been cancelled? Is it, in fact, being revived? Since, as I understand it, there is no possibility of using the V-bomber force in the sense that has been suggested, can he not then say whether this is connected with the weapon which the TSR 2 is intended to use, which is a totally different weapon from Blue Steel as originally designed?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think I have given an absolutely clear and specific Answer to the original Question which was put to me. I am quite prepared to answer further questions on this, but I should much prefer, in an area of which I have not first-hand knowledge, to answer specific Questions put down on the Order Paper.