§ Mr. Richardasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the transfer of the United Kingdom's contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation strategic nuclear deterrent from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. HealeyResponsibility for the United Kingdom's contribution to N.A.T.O.'s strategic nuclear deterrent forces was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy on 30th June, 1969. Our Polaris force is now able to undertake this task and it is no longer necessary to keep aircraft of the V-Bomber force at immediate readiness. Apart from those aircraft which have replaced the Canberras in the strike rôle in support of C.E.N.T.O., the Vulcan aircraft remain assigned to N.A.T.O, but will now be available for operations in the tactical rôle. I should like to pay tribute to the way in which the officers and men concerned at all levels in the Royal Air Force have discharged their arduous responsibilities for the last twelve years, and to express full confidence in their successors in the Royal Navy.