§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the surface to surface guided weapon with which they intend to equip the Royal Navy is of British or foreign design, what is its range and whether this is the only naval weapon they propose to substitute for the striking power of the Fleet Air Arm.]
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, as the Defence White Paper explains, aircraft operating from land bases will take over the main strike function of the carrier. The complementary Naval SSGW which will be introduced in the middle 1970s has not yet been designated. It will be necessary to assess the various possibilities—including any systems being developed by our NATO allies—and take these as the starting point for a new development to meet our requirements.