§ 22. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for Air how many air marshals of various grades are now serving; and how this figure compares with the total last year.
§ Mr. H. FraserThere were 95 on 1st January, 1963, compared with 99 on the same date last year.
§ Mr. HyndWhilst offering congratulations to the right hon. Gentleman for the slight reduction in the number, may I ask whether the Royal Air Force really needs 95 people of that rank? Is it not top-heavy, just the same as the other two Services?
§ Mr. FraserNo, Sir, we need these men. Fourteen of them are serving in international and inter-Service appointments and eight of them in medical and dental branches, which are of great importance.
§ Mr. PagetMay we take it that the introduction of Polaris will not produce any redundancy amongst air marshals?