Captain BENNMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement on the relations of the Navy and the Air Force?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe reference to the Committee which was appointed to consider national and Imperial defence included, among other things, the question of establishing some co-ordinating authority for the Navy, Army and Air Force, whether by a Ministry of Defence or otherwise, as well as the relations of the Navy and Air Force and the standard of strength of the Air Force for home defence.
The final Report dealing with the whole reference will be presented in the autumn, but in the meantime the finding of the Committee upon the strength of the Air Force for home defence has already been adopted by the Government and submitted to Parliament, and the Government are now able to lay before the House the Committee's recommendations, which they have also adopted upon the relations of the Navy and the Air Force and upon the co-ordination of the defence forces.