§ Sir A. V. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the performance of the Valiant and Vulcan bombers in the bombing tests recently held in the United States of America.
Mr. WardYes. At the invitation of the United States Air Force two Valiants and two Vulcans of Bomber Command took part in the Strategic Air Command Bombing Competition held between 30th October and 5th November. In all, 90 individual crews took part comprising 45 teams each of two aircraft.
Of our individual crews, on Valiant achieved the second best blind bombing score in the competition and was placed 11th in the final analysis of the 90 individual crew results. In the team results for blind bombing and navigation combined, the Valiants were placed 27th and the Vulcans 44th.
The standard of accuracy achieved by all entrants was very high and the competition very close. Although there were 63 places between the first and the last of the R.A.F. crews, the difference in their average margin of error on the final scoring was less than 250 yards.
The competition was one in which the experience which the air and ground crews had gained of their equipment, played an important part. Considering the comparatively short time which our aircraft (particularly the Vulcan) have been in operational service, and the fact that they were operating away from their main supporting bases, I regard their performance as particularly encouraging.
Both R.A.F. teams came through this stiff test with credit and the results confirm the high quality of Bomber Command's crews and aircraft.
NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN WEST MIDDLESEX — 15th October, 1956 15th April, 1957 14th October, 1957 Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Total Hayes … 70 47 117 156 93 249 152 63 215 Feltham … 56 69 125 102 66 168 88 30 118 Hounslow … 122 174 296 241 136 377 196 99 295 Southall … 62 63 125 139 75 214 123 68 191 Uxbridge … 80 83 163 121 114 235 85 85 170