HC Deb 13 December 1967 vol 756 cc132-3W
61. Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any further changes are proposed in the Royal Air Force command structure in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

Yes. Following the merger of R.A.F. Bomber and Fighter Commands into the new Strike Command in April, 1968, Signals Command will be replaced by a functionally independent group—to be called No. 90 (Signals) Group—within Strike Command on 1st January, 1969.

Subsequently, the two existing Coastal Command groups will be disbanded and Coastal Command will become a group —to be known as No. 18 (Maritime) Group —within Strike Command. The Maritime Group Commander will be known as Commander, Maritime Air Forces. and will be nominated for the N.A.T.O. posts of Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel and Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic Area. His Headquarters will be at Northwood so that the present close association with the Commander-in-Chief Western Fleet will continue.