§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Secretary of State for Air the number of Royal Air Force stations at home to which distribution of foodstuffs is made by the Navy, 2000W the Army, and by the Royal Air Force transport respectively; in how many instances, if any, collection and distribution by the Royal Air Force transport involves a greater mileage than would be expended if collection and distribution were carried out by the nearest Army or Navy station; what extra annual mileage is thereby involved; and what considerations justify continuance, of Royal Air Force collection and distribution in such cases?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, the Royal Air Force draw foodstuffs from the Royal Army Service Corps, and therefore no deliveries are made from naval stations. Six Air Force stations receive either the whole or part of their supplies from Army depots, using Army transport, and 12 others also draw their supplies from Army depots, but use Air Force transport for the purpose; a further 12 use Air Force transport to fetch supplies from the nearest railway station, where they are delivered by the contractor; in the remaining cases delivery is made by the contractor directly to the Air Force station. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I am not aware of any case in which the employment of Air Force transport involves a greater mileage than that which would be covered if Army transport were utilished.