HC Deb 04 June 1956 vol 553 cc710-1
50. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Air which senior Royal Air Force officers will accompany him to Moscow.

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

My right hon. Friend will be accompanied by eight senior Royal Air Force officers on his visit to the Soviet Union for the Air Day Display at Tushino on Sunday, 24th June. I will, with permission, circulate their names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. de Freitas

Since the delegation is fairly large, will the Secretary of State have discussions with the air force there, and in particular would he have technical discussions on what would be the problems involved if subsequently a plan was agreed upon on the lines of President Eisenhower's, whereby, to lessen suspicion, there was standing air patrol over each other's territory?

Mr. Soames

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said. As he will be aware, a proposal for mutual air inspection was recently put to the Soviet Government through the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee.

Following are the names: Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald IvelawChapman—Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Thomas Pike—Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Designate, Fighter Command Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst—Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command Air Vice-Marshal W. G. Cheshire, Air Officer Commanding, No. 13 Group Air Vice-Marshal K. B. B. Cross, Air Officer Commanding, No. 3 Group Air Vice-Marshal G. Silyn-Roberts, Bomber Command Group Captain F. E. Rosier, Fighter Command Group Captain L. M. Hodges, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force, Marham.

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