Captain BENNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total Vote for the Army and Navy, respectively, for the year 1913–14; and what is the total Vote proposed for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, respectively, for the financial year 1923–24?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe net figures are as follow:—
1913–14. £ Army 28,220,000 Navy (including Supplementary Estimate) 48,809,300 Total 77,029,300
1923–24. £ Army 52,000,000 Navy 58,000,000 Air Force 12,011,000 Total 122,011,000 To the latter figure should be added £7,529,800 provided on the Middle Eastern Vote for troops and Air Force personnel in Iraq and Palestine.
Captain Bennasked the Prime Minister whether it is intended that the additional charges involved in the proposed expansion of the Air Force shall be met by corresponding reductions in the money voted for the other services?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is the intention of His Majesty's Government to have regard to the expenditure on 641W national defence as a whole, and it will continue to be their earnest endeavour to effect every possible reduction of that expenditure.