28. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give an assurance that such reorganisation is to be carried out as will ensure that full weight to their opinions shall be afforded to the rear-admirals lately appointed to positions offering scope for the direction of the Fleet Air Arm, so that they shall not be overridden by other admirals without practical operational flying experience?
Mr. AlexanderI can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the Board of Admiralty will give all the weight that is due to the opinions of the officers who hold the important appointments of Fifth Sea Lord and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air).
Wing-Commander JamesWill the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to the fact that while the Army and the Air Force have solved the problem of their strategic direction by employing officers of recent operational experience, the Navy, not having done so, has largely failed in its two main strategic problems—the submarine and the employment of the Air Arm?
Mr. AlexanderI do not accept the implication of the hon. and gallant Member's question at all. In all divisions of the Admiralty there are officers with experience of the various branches of naval warfare, to whose opinions due weight is given.
Mr. AlexanderI have just quoted two specific officers, the Fifth Sea Lord, who was in charge of a large part of the air 1721 attack on Taranto, and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air), who was an old naval pilot.
Wing-Commander JamesIs it not the fact that these officers have only just been employed after three years of war?
§ 31. Commander Galbraithasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the percentage of Fleet Air Arm first-line squadrons which are commanded by officers of lieutenant rank?
§ Commander GalbraithIs my right hon. Friend aware that the answer I have just received from the Secretary of State for Air was that no squadrons of the Royal Air Force were commanded by flight-lieutenants; and will he take steps to see that officers commanding squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm are of equivalent rank to those commanding squadrons of the Royal Air Force?
Mr. AlexanderThe whole matter is under consideration, and I am sure that, with his naval experience, my hon. and gallant Friend will know that this question has been based upon commands regularly held by lieutenants in the Royal Navy, such as those in submarines, in destroyers, and in some cases, in other units. The whole matter has to be considered together.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Navy officers are now holding commands formerly held by officers of senior rank and that they are not given acting rank like the officers in the Army and the Air Force?
Mr. AlexanderThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is making a general statement. Perhaps he will give me some specific case that he has in mind, and I will look into it.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs it not a fact that the right hon Gentleman is in a much better position to know these facts than I am, and will he please look into the matter?
Mr. AlexanderI have no doubt that my hon. and gallant Friend, before he 1722 makes a statement to the House, is sure of his facts.
Wing-Commander JamesIs it not all part of the same problem that the Royal Navy is not, as in the case of the Royal Air Force, moving out older officers and making younger men available?