§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the strength of operational and training aircraft of the Royal Air Force for each year since 1920.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesTotal aircraft strengths in Royal Air Force flying units as at 31st December for years from 1950 including operational, training, communications and miscellaneous aircraft, are given below. It is not the practice to break these down. Figures for earlier years are not readily available and wartime figures are on a different basis.
1950 4,510 1951 5,507 1952 6,338 1953 5,549 1954 4,968 1955 4,805 1956 4,730 1957 3,385 1958 2,991 1959 2,657 1960 2,505 1961 2,190 1962 2,341 1963 2,263 1964 2,237 1965 2,220 1966 2,119 1967 2,004