§ Mr. SANDYSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have come to a decision with regard to pay and allowances of officers of the Air Battalion?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)The matter is not yet settled.
§ Mr. SANDYSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction among the officers of the Air Battalion owing to the delay of the Army 1209 Council in dealing with this question? Can he give an assurance that the matter will be dealt with on the earliest possible opportunity?
§ Colonel SEELYYes, Sir; it will be dealt with in a very short time.
§ Mr. SANDYSasked whether it is intended to increase the numbers of officers permanently attached to the Air Battalion apart from officers temporarily attached to the battalion for a course of military aviation?
§ Colonel SEELYThe number of officers appointed to the Air Battalion is limited to the number provided for in the Estimates for this year. The Estimates for next year are not yet settled.
§ Mr. SANDYSI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in his opinion the system which he recently proposed in a speech in this House will give an aviation service in any way comparable with the French service, where the officers are permanently attached to the aviation service?
§ Colonel SEELYI think it will give a very adequate aviation service if properly carried out.