§ Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention 1776W has been called to the statement of the official receiver at Salisbury Bankruptcy Court, when an officer of the Royal Air Force was being examined, that officer after officer came before him; and will he cause an independent investigation to be made respecting the mess expenses in the Royal Air Force?
§ Sir S. HOAREI hive seen the Press reports of the statement referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. Full information in regard to mess expenses in the Air Force is already in the possession of the Air Ministry, and I do not consider that further investigation is necessary. The expenses are strictly limited for the purpose of ensuring that the most junior offices s shall be able to live on their pay without difficulty. I am sending particulars of the average messing charges which are in fact incurred to my hon. and gallant Friend and from these he will see that the criticism in regard to standard of living in Royal Air Force messes is unjustifiable.