HC Deb 25 November 1971 vol 826 cc1527-8
17. Mr. Wilkinson

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future command structure of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.

23. Mr. Moyle

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state his estimate of the number of posts and the number of personnel to be saved as the result of the merging of the Support and Strike Commands of the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Lambton

The detailed arrangements for merging the main elements of Strike and Air Support Commands of the Royal Air Force are now being studied. More details will be given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates of next year.

The future organisation of Training and Maintenance Commands will be the subject of a separate study in 1972.

Mr. Wilkinson

Would my hon. Friend agree that anything that would increase the fighting effectiveness of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom would be welcome? Can he give an assurance that the amalgamations which have taken place so far and the downgradings from command to group status have led to reductions in personnel and headquarters units in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Lambton

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Moyle

Can the hon. Gentleman be more precise? Is it intended that these amalgamations should lead to financial savings? If not, it will be impossible to adhere to the Government's own principle of holding down defence expenditure to the level at which it stood when my party left office.

Mr. Lambton

There were three main reasons for this decision to merge. The first was to make the best possible use of manpower, the second to make the United Kingdom command structure of the R.A.F. as compatible as possible with the other two Services and the third to effect economies in support costs. I think that this fully answers the question.