§ 29. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent units or collective parties of troops have been transported by the Royal Air Force during the last nine months.
§ Mr. HeadDuring this period the Royal Air Force carried 734 men of 49 Infantry Brigade and equipment to Nairobi.
§ Mr. BellengerDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that he is carrying out the promise he made when he presented the Army Estimates last year, when he said that unit transport and similar transport by the R.A.F. should be increased in the Army?
§ Mr. HeadWhat I said was that, except in an emergency, unit moves had to be done by ship, but that it was myhope to increase air trooping to the maximum extent.
30. Mr. Bellenger asked the Secretary of State for War what number of troops have been transported by private air companies at Government expense in the last nine months.
§ Mr. BellengerDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the great disparity between the transport of troops by the R.A.F., on whom he would have to rely in war, and by private enterprise; and, therefore, would he reverse the situation 1804 so that the R.A.F. is now trained in transporting troops rather than that it should be done by private enterprise?
§ Mr. HeadI do not think that any special training is needed for transporting troops; and we hope that the present means would be available also in war. This policy, which is followed in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, is one which is best for the Royal Air Force and best for the efficiency of the trooping scheme.