§ 44. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what grounds it was decided that the Royal Air Force should be empowered to create an armoured car force in Palestine and Transjordan; what expert advice was taken before this policy was adopted; the date of this decision; and whether the chief of the Imperial General Staff advised or concurred in so fundamental a departure from previous policy 'as the creation of this force entails?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR {Sir Philip Sassoon)I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under some misapprehension. Royal Air Force armoured car units have been functioning in Iraq as well as in Palestine and Transjordan for the past decade with conspicuous success, and experience has shown most definitely that operational efficiency and administrative convenience are greatly furthered by this arrangement. I do not think a system which has functioned so successfully for 10 years can to-day with any justification be described as a fundamental departure from previous policy. I may, however, add that the institution of air control in the territories in question and the methods of its application were the results of prolonged and careful investigation and subsequent considered decisions by His Majesty's Government—decisions, I need hardly say, taken after giving full weight to all relevant expert advice.
§ Brigadier-General SPEARSAre we to understand that the Air Ministry is going to have a permanent mechanised force, and to develop a mechanised land force?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThis policy has been working very successfully for 10 years.