Orders of the Day — Defence

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 March 1966.

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Photo of Mr Edward Leadbitter Mr Edward Leadbitter , Hartlepools, The 12:00, 7 March 1966

The matter which I wish to bring to the right hon. Gentleman's attention is of some relevance, because I want to find out how he reconciles what he has been saying today with the statement made in 1958 by the then Minister of Defence, the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys), who said: We have no aircraft carriers large enough to operate the long-range bombers which would be needed for an effective strike operation. We really could not contemplate building more and bigger carriers which, with their aircraft, would cost over £100 million each."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th February, 1958, Vol. 583, c. 388–9.] How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement with his remarks today?