§ Sir K. FRASERasked the Secretary of State for Air who is the present Air Attaché at Washington; what are his duties; when and by whom he was appointed; and whether, having regard to the necessity for rigid economy, he will consider the abolition of this office forthwith?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe present Air Attaché at Washington is Group Captain M. G. Christie, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C. His duties are to keep His Majesty's Government informed of the development of aviation in all its aspects in the United States of America. He was appointed in April, 1922, by my predecessor in office, with the concurrence of the Foreign Office. As regards the suggestion in the last part of the question, I do not think that it would be in the public interest to terminate this appointment, which enables the Air Ministry, as no other arrangement would, to keep in constant 1287W and intimate touch with the progress of aeronautics in the United States of America.