THE EARL OF TANKERVILLEasked His Majesty's Government whether they will state the names of the individuals responsible for the fact that during recent action by the Royal Air Force in France and Belgium it was usually necessary for our fighter aircraft to engage enemy aircraft at least four or five times as numerous; whether this was due to lack of equipment, and, if so, who are the individuals responsible for the existence of such a shortage after having had so long a period in which to prepare for the present phase in hostilities?
§ VISCOUNT CALDECOTEThe engagement by units of the Royal Air Force during recent operations in France and Belgium of larger enemy formations was due to a variety of causes of which the numerical preponderance of the German Air Force as a whole was one. The responsibility for this preponderance is a matter of opinion upon which the noble Lord can reach his own conclusions. Other causes were the nature of the operations, and the preference of the enemy for operating in large formations. The personal initiative, however, of our airmen and the quality of the aircraft with which they were equipped enabled our Air Forces to inflict far heavier enemy losses than they themselves sustained. The credit for these remarkable achievements belongs to all ranks of the Royal Air Force.
House adjourned at twenty-six minutes before six o'clock.