Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to establish a Royal Air Force Staff College at Andover; what will be the cost of establishing such a college; what will be the annual charge on the Exchequer; and whether arrangements can suitably be made to avoid this expense or the greater part of it by utilising centres equally convenient and already established?
Captain GUESTIt is proposed to establish a Royal Air Force Staff College as stated at Andover, where buildings and an aerodrome are already available, and where the initial expenditure can consequently be limited to a sum of £21,000 for reconditioning hutments. The annual cost is estimated at £39,000. The proposal to establish such a staff college is not, of course, a new one, as the House was informed of this intention on Page 6 of Command Paper No. 467, which was laid before Parliament in November, 1919. The original scheme was to establish this college at the Royal Air Force training centre at Halton, but it was found, on examination, that this650W necessitated buildings, which would have cost £140,000 to erect, and, in view of the urgent need for national economy, the proposed Air Pilotage School at Andover was greatly reduced in size and scope, thereby making it possible to find accommodation at this station for the staff college, without embarking on a new building programme.