HC Deb 06 February 1951 vol 483 cc1672-3

Motion made, and Question proposed: That an additional number of officers, airmen and airwomen, not exceeding 28,000, all ranks, be maintained for Air Force Service, during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1951.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Crawley)

You have only so far mentioned Vote A, Mr. Mathers. Perhaps I might say a little in explanation of the other Votes. The main reasons for the increases here are plain from the document. First, under Vote A, the numbers of men and women in the Service have increased by 28,000, and as will be seen from Vote 1 there are further increases as a result of the increased pay. This again is reflected—

The Temporary Chairman

We must dispose of Vote A before we proceed to the other Votes.

Mr. Crawley

In that case I can say nothing further on Vote A.

Sir Herbert Williams (Croydon, East)

The Under-Secretary said that this increase had come about because of the increase in the number of men and women in the Service. I may be wrong, but I can seen no reference in this document to the number of men. Can the Under-Secretary tell me where I can find it?

Mr. Crawley

On Vote A, where it is stated that the number of men and women is up by 28,000.

Sir H. Williams

Is it in this document?

Mr. Crawley

We are considering Vote A, which was laid before the House on 1st. December, 1950, and it states that there is an additional number in the Service of 28,000. We have also to consider the other Supplementary Estimates under Votes 1 to 11.

Air Commodore Harvey (Macclesfield)

I am not clear whether we are dealing with the Vote to which the Under-Secretary has referred or the Supplementary Estimates for £10 million.

The Temporary Chairman

We are dealing only with the Question I put to the Committee. That is Vote A, which deals with personnel.