§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the programme of construction and development of missiles for the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, respectively.
§ Dr. GilbertThe defence review and subsequent cuts have led to the cancellation of the Beeswing and Hawkswing anti-tank weapons for the Army and to the deferment of the introduction of an alternative to Hawkswing. Improvements to the Ikara anti-submarine missile system will not be pursued. In addition, some long-term planning assumptions about the size and date of missile development and production programmes have been modified as a result, in part, of financial considerations.