§ Mr. BILLINGasked whether the First Lord of the Admiralty threatened to tender his resignation if the Royal Naval Air Service was included in the recent Air Inquiry; and whether the Lords of the Admiralty have threatened to tender their resignation if any steps are taken to remove from the sphere of their control the Royal Naval Air Service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Captain BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Prime Minister whether he will in due course order that the Report of the Air Board shall be laid upon the Table of the House, or, if this course should be considered inadvisable on military grounds, if Members will be given an opportunity to see it privately, or, if necessary, to hear its contents during the proposed Secret Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe first Report by the President of the Air Board is a document of a highly secret character. So far as my own knowledge and responsibility extend, its contents have only been communicated to members of the War Committee, and are engaging the Committee's close attention. The Report embodies certain proposals and recommendations affecting at least three Departments, the Admiralty, the War Office, and the Ministry of Munitions, whose considered views on those recommendations have yet to be submitted to the War Committee. I hope to be in a position shortly to make a statement to the House on the subject. I certainly do not think it desirable that the Report in its entirety should be laid on the Table. I am not prepared at present to state whether or not it is advisable that the. Board's proposals should be discussed in Secret Session.