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 Fred Mulley Mr Fred Mulley , Sheffield Park 12:00, 7 March 1966

On the 10-year basis, £570 million, including the running costs and after allowing for cancellation costs which were involved as well.

However hon. Gentlemen opposite juggle with the figures they cannot escape the brutal fact that having the TSR2 on the most favourable assumptions of their choosing would have cost the nation £300 million more than purchasing the F.111s.

The other point I want to deal with at some length is the question of the dollar expenditure involved. The choice of the F.111A has been criticised because of the substantial dollar expenditure, but we have, in fact, taken steps to ensure that the whole dollar expenditure costs of the purchase of this aircraft, including spares, over the whole period of its life will be fully offset by sales of British equipment to the United States from any co-operative arrangements—