§ 52. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether any civilians will be appointed to the sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, which is to consider the result of experiments concerning the vulnerability from the air of capital ships; and whether the names of the sub-committee will be announced?
§ Sir T. INSKIPThe membership of this sub-committee is confined to Ministers, with the Chiefs of Staffs concerned acting as technical advisers. In accordance with the usual practice it is not proposed to announce the names of the members.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERIs it the case that this House may be asked to vote money for the construction of two battleships next year while in ignorance of the names of the gentlemen who have recommended that battleships should still be regarded as a necessary part of our defences?
§ Sir T. INSKIPThe committee was not appointed to consider any recommendations of that description. It was appointed to consider the questions which I mentioned to the Rouse two days ago.
§ 53. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether the Air Ministry have received from the Admiralty all the facilities they have at any time asked for in order to carry out experiments regarding the vulnerability of warships from the air; whether the Air Ministry have been enabled to carry out such experiments under the precise conditions and circumstances which they requested; and whether any agreed joint report of the Air Ministry and Admiralty upon this subject exists?
§ Sir T. INSKIPAs the hon. and gallant Member will be aware from the reply which I gave to the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 25th March, a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence has been appointed to consider the experiments that have taken place or are proposed in connection with the defence against aircraft and the vulnerability from the air of capital ships. This sub-Committee will, of course, review all past experiments, the circumstances in which they were carried out and the nature of tape reports rendered upon them. I cannot prejudge the findings of this sub-Committee.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESIs it within their terms of reference, either to conduct experiments themselves or to order that experiments shall be conducted?
§ Sir T. INSKIPI have read out the terms of reference.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESBut can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that is within their terms of reference? I was unable to appreciate that from the answer which he gave.
§ Sir T. INSKIPIf the hon. Gentleman looks at the terms of reference, I think he will be able to satisfy himself.