HC Deb 09 February 1944 vol 396 c1745
9. Major C. S. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will define the duties of the R.A.F. Regiment; and what percentage of these troops are at present employed in theatres of operations.

The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)

The duties of the R.A.F. Regiment include the defence of airfields and vulnerable points against air attack and the early occupation and local protection against ground and air attack of forward airfields in theatres of active land operations. They are all employed in this country or other theatres of operations.

Major Taylor

In view of the fact that this regiment was formed at a time when we were expecting air attacks on our aerodromes, could not these first-class, fully trained troops now be employed in a more offensive rôle?

Sir A. Sinclair

They certainly will be. It was always in our mind from the very first that they would be employed in an offensive rôle.