§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to put an end to the still existing lack of 1652W co-operation between the Royal Naval Air Service authorities and the Military Air and Anti-Aircraft Services; if he is aware that only recently, in substituting the military authority for the naval authority at an important station now moved somewhat further inland, the efficiency of the equipment has been impaired by replacing the more powerful electric projectors by others of a less power and by the provision of obsolete Boer war guns of a harmless nature beyond a very short range; whether his attention has been called to the inefficiency of our anti-aircraft defences when, during one of the recent Zeppelin raids, the projectors at an important station were found to be quite inadequate as they could only flash their lights effectively to a low altitude, and that although such anti-aircraft guns as had been provided fired incessantly none of the shells got anywhere near to their objective; and, in these circumstances, if he will consult with his naval and military advisers and ask them to point out to their respective Departments that, although the public is willing to make any necessary sacrifice, they are altogether opposed to the present lack of co-ordination between the two Services which still continues to minimise the effectiveness of our anti-aircraft defences as a whole?
§ Major BAIRDIn the present case no question of co-ordination or lack of coordination between the two Services arises for the reason that the guns and searchlights of the place which I have been privately informed by my hon. Friend that his question refers to, though originally in the hands of the Admiralty were transferred from the Admiralty to the military authorities, and are now under the control of the Department responsible for Home defence. I have made careful inquiry, and am assured that the searchlights now employed are of the same type as were in us-s when the defence was in the hands of the naval authorities. No guns have been removed except on replacement by others of a more efficient kind.