§ Mr. E. Smithasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been directed to the declaration by Air-Marshal W. G. S. Mitchell of the Air Council, at the Royal United Service Institution, that the Air Ministry are rather hampered by the lack of the necessary instruments coming through; and what are the prospects of remedying the lack of supply?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadIn reply to the first part of the question, during 1937 certain aircraft were on grounds of prudence required to refrain from flying in bad weather conditions because they could not immediately be fitted with cloud flying instruments or because the actuating mechanism required modification, I understand that this was the point which Air-Marshal Mitchell had in mind when, in response to a suggestion that the Royal Air Force might be given more training in bad weather conditions, he made the remarks to which the hon. Member refers. As regards the second part the production and supply of instruments is now satisfactory and I expect that the position I have referred to above will be fully rectified within the next few months.
§ Mr. Everardasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether new aircraft being delivered from the manufacturers to squadrons of the Royal Air Force are fully equipped with all navigation instruments and radio?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadNew aircraft being delivered from contractors are fully equipped with all essential navigation instruments but not with wireless, the installation and testing of which before delivery would present many difficulties.