§ 51. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered the Report of the Select Committee on the Loch Doon scandal; and, if so, what action they intend to take regarding such of the officers responsible as still remain in His Majesty's service?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWHis Majesty's Government have given most careful consideration to the Report referred to. It is our duty to weigh against any errors of judgment in this case the great services, and they cannot be rated too highly, which have been rendered by the officers in question to the rapid development of our Air Forces. After taking every circumstance into account, the Government do not consider that any action against these officers is called for.
§ Sir W. ESSEXWill the right hon. Gentleman have placed in the tea room or somewhere convenient a large scale ordnance map, so that hon. Members may satisfy themselves how much landing space was originally on this site?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI really do not think that any useful purpose would be served by that. I am sure that the object of my hon. Friend was not to punish particular officers, but to prevent the same thing happening again, and that we hope to prevent.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the officers responsible are the same officers who were responsible for the hopeless inefficiency of our Air Service two years ago, and, under these circumstances, does he not think that some action most necessary and advantageous in the public interest?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI entirely disagree with the hon. Member. I think that there has been nothing more remarkable than the success which has characterised the development of the Air Service.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this success was only rendered possible—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERWill the hon. Member kindly hand in his question.
§ Mr. BILLINGOn a point of Order. You were proposing to permit me to put a question. You have no idea what that question is. Therefore, you are not in a position to judge whether—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat was the very reason why I asked the hon. Member to hand it in.
§ Mr. BILLINGAm I to understand, if the behaviour of hon. Members is not compatible with the dignity of this House, that you propose to rule out any supplementary questions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI was passing no reflection upon the conduct of any hon. Member. All I did was to ask the hon. Member to hand in his question. It can then be dealt with as an ordinary question.
§ 60. Mr. BILLINGasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether any special inquiry has been instituted or is contemplated into the matter of the Loch Doon aerodrome?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford applies also to this question.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that had it not been for a complete change of command, the increased efficiency of the Air Service would not have been made possible?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo; I am not in the least aware of that fact.
§ Mr. BILLINGHe is not aware of what takes place in his own Department.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to make interjections. I have warned the hon. Member, and if he cannot conform to the ordinary Rules, I may have to ask him to step outside.