§ 5. Mr. Mulleyasked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the decision to place Fighter Command under the control of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, as part of a unified air defence system for Europe, involves changes in the size, rôle, composition and deployment of United Kingdom air defences forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. AmeryI do not expect that changes will result in our plans for the size, rôle, composition and deployment of our forces; these are matters reserved for national decision.
§ Mr. MulleyI accept that unified air command in Europe is desirable, but does not the Secretary of State agree that the announcement of a decision of such importance should have been made to the House and not left to the last day before Christmas and made by way of a Written Answer?
§ Mr. AmeryThe elements which the hon. Gentleman mentions in his Question—size, r⊚cle, composition and deployment—are reserved for national decision. The main change. towards which we had been moving before, is the integration of the warning system. I think there would have been general unanimity in the House that it was right to move in that direction.