The following questions stood on the Paper in the name of Mr. LYNCH—
31. To ask the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the fact that aeroplanes have shown great possibilities of use, apart from their function of scouting and otherwise acting as adjuncts to the military and naval forces, he will proceed to develop the aeroplane service as a new arm of the offensive and defensive force of the nation?
32. To ask the Minister of Munitions whether, by creating a Department of his office devoted to fostering the production of aeroplanes, by co-ordinating the efforts of all private firms engaged in their manufacture, and by establishing new factories, it would be possible to increase the output to 10,000 within the next six months; and whether he will take the steps necessary to that end?
33. To ask the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the dispatch of Sir John French of 20th November, 1914, referring to aeroplanes and saying that no effort should be spared to increase their numbers, he will speed up the production by selecting standard types for the machines themselves and all the parts in particular and by organising a sufficient number of workshops in regard to this object?
§ Mr. LYNCHNot seeing the Minister of Munitions in his place, I beg leave to 1632 postpone these questions until he arrives to-day.
§ Mr. TENNANTI have been asked to answer them.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I say that yesterday I had no intention whatever of offering any offence to the Under-Secretary of State for War. What I meant was, that the Minister of Munitions, being responsible for these matters and being there in his place, should have answered them, and not simply have given a stereotyped answer through another who is not responsible.
§ Mr. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Gentleman want an answer to the questions or not?
§ Mr. TENNANTPerhaps I may be allowed to explain that the Minister of Munitions particularly asked me to answer these questions, because the question of aeroplanes is not within his province; perhaps in those circumstances the hon. Member will allow me to give the answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is perfectly obvious that this is in the Department of the War Office. If the hon. Member insists on putting the question to another Department, he must take his choice of having an answer or not.