HC Deb 02 June 1932 vol 266 c1347W
Sir B. FALLE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the interests of economy, he will consider with the Secretaries of State for War and Air an amalgamation of the victualling stores, service stores, ordnance stores, etc., of the three services in the home ports of Portsmouth, Devonport, and Chatham, as well as a pooling of rifle ranges, recreation grounds, and hospitals?

Captain WALLACE

The question of amalgamation of services common to the Navy, Army and Air Force has already received much attention. The policy of the amalgamation of hospitals has been accepted for many years and has been carried to the utmost extent possible. The services also habitually co-operate with one another in regard to such matters as recreation grounds, ranges, etc. In its wider aspects, the whole question was investigated by the MondWeir Committee on the Amalgamation of Services common to the Navy, Army and Air Force, whose report was presented to Parliament as Command Paper 2649 of 1926. and who found that in such matters as supply, amalgamation would not be practicable nor economical, but recommended a policy of inter-service co-ordination which is being steadily followed by means of standing committees which have resulted in considerable economies.