§ 48. Lieut.-Commander BURNEYasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will set up a committee to investigate the possibilities of combining the Air Ministry and the Admiralty into one department for the purpose of obtaining a reduction of administrative expenses, together with a greater concentration of defence effort upon vital points both at Home and Overseas?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAn exhaustive inquiry into the co-ordination of the Services was made as recently as 1923 by a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, and I do not think that the question could be profitably reopened at this stage.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman looked into the question of a combined staff for the three services which would be charged with the placing of orders for material and supplies among other matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not quite sure. I would be glad to look into that matter.
§ Lieut.-Commander BURNEYIs it not a fact that the co-ordination asked for by the Imperial Defence Committee did not extend to the matter of the co-ordination of supplies?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think so.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHCan the Prime Minister give any indication of the 2466 results of the investigation of the Committee of Imperial Defence on this question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should requite notice of that question.