HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 cc404-5
69. Mr. Donner

asked the Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is still using Spitfires; and what percentage will be equipped with jet fighter aircraft by 31st December, 1949.

The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)

Eighty per cent. of Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons are using Spitfires. On present plans 35 per cent. of the squadrons will be equipped with jet fighter aircraft by 31st December, 1949.

Mr. Donner

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why jet fighters are exported to foreign countries while our own young men are expected, in the event of war, to fight in out-of-date machines?

Mr. Henderson

It is not for me to say why jet fighters are exported to other countries. That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. The export of these aircraft, however, has not limited the supply of jet machines to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons.

Mr. Donner

Surely the right hon. Gentleman would agree that his first duty is to ensure that our own Air Forces have up-to-date aircraft?

Mr. Henderson

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that we have had not only to re-equip the auxiliary squadrons but also to re-equip the fighter squadrons. We have re-equipped all squadrons of Fighter Command and all ground attack squadrons in the Middle East and B.A.F.O. In fact, all fighter squadrons of the Regular Air Force will be re-equipped by the end of this year. So far as the auxiliary squadrons are concerned, as I said in my reply, 35 per cent. will be re-equipped by the end of this year. We are phasing the re-equipment of the remaining squadrons during next year and hope to complete it by early 1951.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Does the Secretary of State for Air recall that his Under-Secretary said that the re-equipment of auxiliary squadrons would have taken place a year ago, and why are we so far behind?

Mr. Henderson

I would like to see that statement, because it is certainly a statement of which I am unaware and it does not fit in with the facts of the position.