§ 46. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the officially announced decisions of the Soviet, United States, Belgian, Swiss, and Japanese Governments to strengthen their air forces forthwith; and whether, having regard to this country's dependence on air power, and the fact that we rank fifth in terms of first-line strength, His Majesty's Government will bring the situation under early review?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, His Majesty's Government are fully alive both to the importance of air power to this country and to the present relative inferiority of the Royal Air Force in terms of first-line strength. As my hon. and 30 gallant Friend will be aware, His Majesty's Government have, in fact, throughout made it their earnest endeavour to secure parity for the principal air Powers at the lowest level on which international agreement can be secured.