§ 2.38 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF SANDWICHMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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 SANDWICHMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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 SHEPHERDMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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 HILLSBOROUGHMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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 OGMOREMy 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?
§ LORD OGMOREMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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 HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, is it not fairly obvious that if we are going to use V-bombers at low level they will be shot to pieces?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy 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 JELLICOEMy 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.