§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for Air what has been the cost of the recent reorganisation in the Air Force; what will be the cost of the provision of command headquarters at Hillingdon; and whether any new buildings have been erected for the officers and other ranks at Hillingdon?
§ Sir S. HOARE:I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the recent changes of headquarters due to 2039W the assumption of control of all home defence units by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Defences of Great Britain. The headquarters of this new command and also of that of the fighting area, which is subordinate to it, are being located at Hillingdon House, Uxbridge, hitherto occupied by the Inland Area, and, it has in consequence, been necessary to acquire new headquarters for the Inland Area, at Bentley Priory, Stan-more. As regards the cost of this new accommodation, I would refer to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on 9th December last. The change involves no additional cost at Hillingdon House. Certain increases of establishment of personnel and therefore annual cost are also involved, but these are only a part of the general expansion scheme for the creation of a Home Defence Force of 52 squadrons and cannot be separated from it.