§ 46. Captain Harold Balfourasked the Prime Minister whether the present Royal Air Force expansion programme, for completion by March, 1939, is still anticipated to provide parity in first-line strength with any European air force within striking distance of our shores by the time of its completion, calculating the basis of definition of first-line the same in all cases; and, if not, whether the Government will consider superimposing an additional expansion programme on to the present one in order to ensure achievement of parity?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government has recently completed a further comprehensive review of the Defence programmes of the three Services. I propose to deal fully with the whole subject in my speech in the Defence Debate next week, which will, of course, include a statement relative to the strength of the Air Force.