§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give the explanation of the disparity between the official figure of 371 airplanes possessed by Great Britain and the existence of 34 squadrons of 12 airplanes each; and, if the explanation is that some of the squadrons are below their proper strength, whether those squadrons are home squadrons?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe 371 aeroplanes to which I referred in my speech on 14th March are first line machines of formed squadrons and did not include the aeroplanes of the two squadrons which are being formed as part of the new expansion scheme, and which my hon. and gallant Friend will see from my statement were included in the total of 34 squadrons. It must further be remembered that a few squadrons have an establishment of 10 or 11 instead of 12 aeroplanes. The apparent discrepancy is explainable upon these grounds and not upon that of any squadrons being below strength.