§ 1. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many light bomber squadrons, ground attack squadrons and Royal Air Force Regiment squadrons, were included in the Far East Air Force in February, 1967.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Merlyn Rees)Excluding aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the numbers of Royal Air Force squadrons were one, one and two, respectively.
§ Mr. OnslowWhy, therefore, did this year's Defence White Paper suggest that there was more than one R.A.F. ground attack squadron in the Far East Air Force? How many ground attack squadrons does the hon. Gentleman expect to be in the Far East in February, 1968?
§ Mr. ReesThe relevant passage was designed to be a broad statement about the Far East Air Force. It is not the practice to give an order of battle. It certainly was not intended to be specific. Nevertheless, I agree that paragraph 15 might have been better worded. As to the beginning of next year, the hon. Member had better wait.