§ 15. Mr. Stracheyasked the Secretary of State for Air which changes introduced after the Benson experiment have been dropped without announcement.
Mr. WardI am aware of none and certainly we have no intention of dropping any. But most of the changes made as the result of the Benson experiment necessarily left discretion to commanders, and I would expect some adjustments to have been made locally. I have asked the Inspector-General to discuss the whole question with Commanders-in-Chief and to let me have a report including, if possible, suggestions for further improvements.
§ Mr. StracheyDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that when a Report like the Grigg Report, which the Government have accepted, states that these improvements and reforms have been quietly dropped, it must cause a good deal of disquiet? Can he clear up the discrepancy between that categorical statement in the Grigg Report and what he tells us now?
Mr. WardAs soon as I saw that statement I asked the Inspector-General to investigate it, but the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Grigg Report did not give specific details.