§ 40. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT his Department's recent statements on V-bomber exercises over United States territory; and if he will make a statement showing how many such exercises have been carried out in the last four years, giving dates and estimates of success.
§ Mr. H. FraserThe only United States air defence exercise in which Royal Air Force V-bombers took part was held in October, 1961. It is not in the public, interest to disclose the results of such exercises.
As to the first part of the Question, I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the statement:
On the afternoon of Sunday, 6th January, an Air Ministry spokesman confirmed in reply to a Press inquiry that the Royal Air Force had recently taken part in a North American 68W air defence exercise. He said that it was not the practice to comment on results.This information was later given to other Press inquirers also.The statement was in error, due to a misunderstanding in the course of a telephone conversation. In fact, the date of the exercise was October, 1961.On Monday morning, 7th January, the Air Ministry made a correction through the Press Association stating the correct date of the exercise.