§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what rôle the hover-craft has to play in the current defence strategy for the United Kingdom.
Armed Forces percentage Industry percentage 1st April 1974–31st March 1975 … … … … … 12.5 27.9 1st April 1975–31st March 1976 … … … … … 29.5 19.4 1st April 1976–31st March 1977 … … … … … 9.6 9.1* Sources:
Armed Forces—AFPRB Reports (MOD assessment for 1974–75).
Industry—DE Gazette, index of average earnings.
* April 1976-January 1977 only.
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§ Dr. GilbertExtensive studies have been undertaken into a variety of possible military uses for the hovercraft. In the last three years these have concentrated on its possible use in the mine counter-measures rôle. No decision has yet been taken on whether or not the Royal Navy should adopt the hovercraft for use in this or other rôles.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his proposals for the future of the Hovercraft Trials Unit at Lee-on-Solent.
§ Dr. GilbertThere are no plans at present to close the Naval Hovercraft Trials Unit, but until a decision has been taken on the possible future use of hovercraft in the mine counter-measures rôle it is too early to say whether and, if so, in what form the unit will continue. A decision not to proceed with the MCM hovercraft programme would not necessarily result in the disbandment of the unit.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision on the future of hovercraft in an MCM rôle.
§ Dr. GilbertEvaluation of the results of trials of the hovercraft in the mine counter-measures rôle is now well under way. We hope to reach a decision on future policy for the hovercraft in this rôle in the next 12 months.