§ Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Defence on what date it was decided that Bristol Aerojets Limited should manufacture Polaris and the solid propellant polyurethane; and to what extent this arrangement was made with Government authority, in view of the fact that the question of acquiring Polaris has not yet arisen.
Mr. WardI have been asked to reply.
No such decision has been taken. The Bristol Aeroplane Company and the Aerojet General Corporation of the United States have made a commercial agreement for the common exploitation of each other's techniques for making solid propellants and rocket motors. The Government were consulted and saw no objection.
§ Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Defence why he has proceeded with the installation of Thor missiles in this country after only two have been fired, contrary to the Government's statement that these missiles would not be accepted until they had been successfully developed.
Mr. WardI have been asked to reply.
The Thor missiles now being delivered to the Royal Air Force are for training 308W purposes only. The proving of the missile itself is proceeding according to plan.
§ Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Defence why Her Majesty's Government have not decided to acquire the Polaris missile although the system is still in the development stage, in the light of their decision to acquire Thor missiles before one had been successfully fired.
Mr. WardI have been asked to reply.
The reason why a decision has not been taken to buy Polaris missiles is that it may not be the right decision to take.