§ Now I come to the second objective of air policy—namely, the creation of Empire air communications, but before I say a word or two about that objective, I should like to mention in passing the excellent work that the Air Force is carrying out for the Navy, the Army, and the Empire garrisons overseas. So far as the Fleet Air Arm is concerned, it is now equipped entirely with post-War types, and I can say, without fear of contradiction, that its flying personnel is the most efficient of any similar flying personnel anywhere in the world. So far as the Army squadrons are concerned, there again we have been maintaining the system of the closest possible co-operation with the Army, and I think I may say, certainly on behalf of the Air Force, and probably on behalf of the Army as well, that we learned very valuable lessons at the Army Manœuvres on Salisbury Plain last autumn. As far as the Empire garrisons are concerned, I will not say anything to-day about the work of the Air Force in Iraq, because the House has already had its attention called to the excellence of that work on several occasions lately. I would only, in passing, allude to a remarkable air operation that was recently carried out on the north-west frontier of India, an operation that was interesting for this reason, that it was the first occasion upon which the Air Force in India has been allowed to operate independently of the support of any ground forces. The experiment was altogether successful. The 773 operation was carried out in a very few weeks, and it was carried out with practically no casualties at all.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYNot to the other side?
§ Sir S. HOAREWith very small casualties indeed to the other side—much smaller casualties than would have been the case with a long-drawn-out campaign. I do not linger upon this part of the subject, for the good reason that our policy with the Fleet and the Army and the garrisons overseas remains the same, and the House already understands it.