§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy 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 any message of gratitude was sent to the officers and men of the V-bomber force on relinquishing their responsibility for nuclear deterrence; and, if not, why not.]
§ THE Lord PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, on June 30, 1969, when the responsibility for the United Kingdom's contribution to NATO's strategic nuclear deterrent forces was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy, the Chief of the Air Staff sent a congratulatory signal to Strike Command. He referred to the maintenance, at all times, over a long period, of the highest state of readiness which the Royal Air Force has known in peace time. He congratulated the personnel of the V-Force on their unsurpassed demonstration of professional skill, dedication and tenacity and reminded them that the long hours of arduous duty in cockpits, crew rooms, dispersals, hangars and operations rooms had brought the reward of knowing that a vital task had been successfully concluded. On July 3, in another place, the Secretary of State for Defence also paid a similar tribute. I am sure that noble Lords would also wish to add their congratulations.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord the Leader of the House for that most satisfactory Answer, which I am certain will meet with the greatest approval in all parts of the House. I wonder whether he would agree that the 762 contents or the substance of this message are very little known to the public, and the services these young men have rendered have been done in conditions of considerable obscurity so far as the general public is concerned. Would he consider giving this message a rather higher degree of publicity, if possible, so that its contents could be known to the nation at large?
§ Lord SHACKLETONMy Lords, on the particular point of publishing the message, it was of course intended for the air crews and the other people concerned and was circulated directly to them. None the less, I agree there is merit in the noble Earl's suggestion. I think that one way in which this message could be known more widely is if, arising out of this Question, I were to circulate it in the Official Report. I entirely agree with what the noble Earl has said about these men. I have seen something of the V-Bomber crews and they were the most extraordinarily dedicated and efficient body of men, and no praise can be too high for their devotion to duty.
§ Following is the text of Congratulatory Signal from the Chief of the Air Staff to H.Q. Strike Command, sent on 30th June, 1969:
§ "For AOC-in-C from CAS. As you know the last white paper announced that this year the Royal Air Force will transfer to the Royal Navy the responsibility of providing Britain's contribution to the Strategic Nuclear Deterrent. I think it appropriate to remember that this task has meant maintaining, at all times throughout seven years, the highest state of readiness which the Royal Air Force has known in peacetime. The way in which QRA has been performed and the reaction of the Force to the operational demands of our plans and those of SACEUR has been an unsurpassed demonstration of professional skill, dedication and tenacity.
§ "The long hours of arduous duty in cockpits, crew rooms, dispersals, hangers and operation rooms have brought the reward of knowing that a vital task has been successfully completed. I send my congratulations to you and all under your command who have been connected with this very heavy responsibility over the years.
§ "But when QRA by the medium bomber force ends it does not presage a general relaxation in our readiness for operations. The future roles of the force will call for the same determination as you have shown in the past and the maintenance of high generation rates. When you set about your new and continuing tasks you can look with justifiable pride upon your past achievements and from them find inspiration for the future."