HC Deb 28 June 1939 vol 349 cc420-2
Mr. Arthur Greenwood

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is able to make any announcement in regard to the recent Air Mission to New Zealand.

Sir K. Wood

I am glad to be able to announce that complete agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Government in New Zealand and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on the recommendations of the recent Air Mission to New Zealand and certain matters arising out of it. These recommendations have two inter-related aims, namely:

  1. (i)The creation in New Zealand of manufacturing capacity for the production of aircraft;
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  2. (ii) the expansion of training facilities in the Dominion with a view to increasing the output of fully trained flying personnel for the Air Forces of both countries in peace and war.
With this end in view, the Mission recommended, first, that the New Zealand Government should place an immediate order for training aircraft to be manufactured in New Zealand by the de Havilland Company, which will enable the Company to proceed at once with the establishment of an aircraft factory in the Dominion; and, secondly, the establishment of further flying training facilities in New Zealand. In this latter connection I should explain that there has been in operation for some time a scheme under which a number of Dominions pilots have been trained annually for the Royal Air Force. The additional training facilities now to be established will enable the number to be raised to 220 a year in peace, and would put New Zealand in a position to send overseas in the event of war not less than 1,300 fully trained pilots and other flying personnel annually.

The New Zealand Government have intimated that they have decided to implement both these recommendations at once; and by way of contribution to the cost involved in these two important projects the United Kingdom Government have agreed to make an increase in the grants paid under the present training scheme.

I am sure that the House will agree that the further assistance thus given by the Dominion of New Zealand will be a most valuable contribution to Imperial Defence. I should also like to take this opportunity of expressing the thanks of His Majesty's Government to Sir Hard-man Lever and his colleagues for their valuable work.

Mr. Thorne

Does it not seem rather strange that, in consequence of this agreement between this country and New Zealand, the Bank of England are trying to impose an embargo on the New Zealand loan?

Mr. Simmonds

Could my right hon. Friend assure the House that, notwithstanding the great need for trained personnel here, if the New Zealand Government require any trained personnel from the Royal Air Force he will do his best to loan that personnel?

Sir K. Wood

If that matter arises, I shall be glad to consider it.