§ 68. Sir Stanley Reedasked the Secretary of State for Air how many rescue craft are maintained round the coasts of Great Britain; what is the personnel engaged; and the annual cost to the latest ascertainable date.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe Royal Air Force maintains no rescue craft as such. The second and third parts of the Question do not therefore arise. There are, however, 52 small craft, including pinnances, seaplane tenders and launches, in position at 16 places round the coasts of Great Britain. These craft are engaged on various duties, such as target towing and range safety, but are linked to the air rescue organisation and are called out for rescue work when required.
§ Sir S. ReedMay I ask the Minister if he will look into the question again and see if this substantial personnel could be more profitably occupied, and whether 1224 the target towing practice, on which some of them are almost entirely engaged, could be more easily and profitably undertaken by tugs lying idle in those harbours?
§ Mr. HendersonI am afraid that so long as we have an Air Force we have to see that it receives training, and so long as it receives training we have to take all the precautions for which these craft are responsible.