HL Deb 20 December 1967 vol 287 cc1438-9
THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My 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 recent review of expenditure will postpone the provision of bullet-proof armour with which it had been proposed to equip helicopters in the Royal Navy.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, there is no proposal to postpone provision of the bullet-proof armour proposed for certain Royal Naval helicopters. Deliveries are now being made.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his Answer? And may I suppose that he realised the importance of this point during his recent appointment in Aden?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, the noble Earl is getting a little near home. When I flew over Sheikh Othman I was in an unarmed helicopter.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether this point will be excluded from the next review?

LORD SHACKLETON

The next review?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I understood that we were having a review of defence expenditure.

LORD SHACKLETON

Perhaps the noble Lord is as confused as I am.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, perhaps I may put it more plainly. I understood, though I may be wrong, that the Government had said they were going to review defence expenditure. I do not know, but perhaps the noble Lord has not heard of it. I wanted to know whether in the next review this point would be excluded.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I never cease to hear of it. But I think it may be too late, if deliveries are now being made.