77. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress of his assessment of the role of aircraft carriers in the 1970's in the light of the recent performance by H.M.S. "Eagle in flying off 2,300 aircraft sorties in contrast to 100 sorties by land-based aircraft, during an operation involving a record-breaking period of 71 days of continuous sea time in support of Her Majesty's Government's policies over Rhodesia.
§ Mr. HealeyOf course "Eagle's" performance was first-class, but a simple comparison of the figures quoted in the Question does not provide a basis for inferences about the performance of alternative weapon systems in the future. What we had to consider in the Defence Review was whether, in the late 1970's or the 1980's—not the 1960's—the tasks for which we would be likely to need large strike carriers would justify continuing expenditure of around £140 million a year. We came to the conclusion that, with the reductions we envisage in such tasks, they would not ; and this is still my view.