§ 69. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the estimated saving in uniformed manpower in the Royal Air Force as a result of the curtailment in the production of aircraft previously ordered for the Royal Air Force.
Mr. WardI must ask the right hon. and learned Member to await the White Paper on Defence, which will be issued in February.
§ 70. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the percentage reduction in the front-line 204W strength of the Royal Air Force as projected under the £4,700 million programme as a result of the curtailment in the production of aircraft previously ordered for the Royal Air Force.
Mr. WardThe strength of an air force cannot be measured simply in numbers of front-line aircraft. It would be misleading to give a percentage figure without additional information about quality and striking power at particular dates, which it would not be in the national interest to disclose.
I can, however, say that the size and effectiveness of the front-line of the Royal Air Force will still be greatly increased under the programme now contemplated by the Government.
§ 72. Group Captain Wilcockasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the curtailment in aircraft production, he will now allow pilots to transfer to the reserve with a view to their employment in civil aviation.
Mr. WardThe changes in the aircraft production programme announced in the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4th December will not cause any surplus of trained pilots in the Royal Air Force.