§ 32. Mr. Wiggasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what part of the sum of £292 million estimated to be spent on the purchase of aircraft and stores in 1955–56 he now estimates will be spent; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. WardExpenditure on the purchase of aircraft and stores in 1955–56 is likely to be below the estimate, but it is not possible at this stage of the financial year to say by how much.
§ Mr. WiggWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to say whether one of the reasons for the shortfall is the absence of technical staff to maintain V bombers? In other words, has the Air Ministry cut back the supply of V bombers because it lacks the technical staff to maintain the aircraft?
Mr. WardI think I must refer Questions about V bombers to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.
§ Mr. ShinwellWould the hon. Gentleman be quite frank with the House? Is it not true to say that the estimate for the Royal Air Force will not be fully used? Is it not true to say that?
Mr. WardI did say that it looked at the moment as though we would be underspent, but I did not think it fair to say by how much at this stage, because there is still a lot of the financial year to go, and it might be a quite different figure by the end.
§ Mr. WiggAs the hon. Gentleman has not been as frank as usual with the House, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.