HC Deb 02 August 1923 vol 167 cc1717-9

This particular branch of the subject was referred to a special Sub-Committee consisting of Lord Balfour, a former First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Weir, a former Air Minister—both of them being specially conversant with the difficulties of inter-departmental relations—and Lord Peel, a member of the present Cabinet. Sixteen witnesses were heard before the Sub-Committee and 19 memoranda were submitted to it. The consideration by the Sub-Committee of the evidence, like the consideration by other authorities on previous occasions, have led them to a conclusion—a unanimous conclusion—in favour of the principle of a single Air Service.

The Admiralty were rightly concerned to maintain the absolute control over all the fighting equipment in the Fleet which is essential to its efficiency. They also urged that reconnaissance at sea requires the technical braining of a naval officer. The Special Sub-Committee, while unable to meet the views of the Admiralty to the extent of destroying the principle of a single Air Service, consider that they have dealt by suitable provisions with these detailed objections, and, in particular, have secured for them the absolute control afloat and the professional reconnaissance to which I have referred. The reasons in favour of a single Air Service which have had weight with the Government may be summarised as follow:

In the first place, the Air Service, though it must have intimate relations with the other Armed Forces at sea and on land, and must be familiar with their requirements, differs in its conditions essentially from both. On the other hand, aircraft, whether they are flying above the sea or elsewhere, are, broadly speaking, governed according to the same main principles. In the second place, the whole science of air power is in a condition of rapid development. The application, therefore, of experience, both as to personnel and as to material, wherever that experience can be obtained, whether at sea or on shore, is vital to success in either case. We cannot afford to break up the lessons of this experience. In the third place, it is clear that, in certain contingencies, the shore-based air forces and the air forces of the fleet may be called upon to act together. Such common action may be very difficult without a unity of method in both Services.

Efficiency, therefore, prescribes common knowledge, common training, common material provision, and a common service. Economy points in the same direction. From this last point of view, the conclusion against the duplication of training schools and aerodromes and building plant is evident.

For these reasons, the conclusion of the Sub-Committee and of the main Committee that there should be a single Air Service must, in the opinion of the Government, be accepted, subject to the conditions which are necessary to meet the detailed objections urged by the Admiralty.

The recommendations of the Sub-Committee for this purpose are contained under 13 heads, dealing with liaison between the two Services, provision of material, inclusion in Naval Estimates of the charge for the Fleet Air Arm, integrity of the strength of the Fleet Air Arm, discipline and status of air officers and men when afloat, number and position of attached naval officers, and special reservation of air reconnaissances and spotting to the Navy. To these the main Committee have added a further recommendation, permitting to attached naval officers the retention of their uniform, a point which was strongly urged on behalf of the Admiralty.

If these recommendations be examined, it will be seen that, by their provisions, the permeation of each Service with a knowledge of the requirements of the other would be achieved, and the administrative difficulties dealt with, without destroying the unity of the Air Service. It is impossible without experience to pronounce a final judgment on these arrangements. The Government are, however, confident that both Services will do their utmost to make them successful.

In respect of this division of the subject, the Report of the Sub-Committee, together with a covering note of the main Committee, has been laid on the Table, and will be distributed immediately.