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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0174.PDF
tialities of their own, and in their own element, distinctive from their other and vitally important duties in connection with the naval and military services, the great importance of which is not in the least underrated, and convinced as we are in the future that the greatest danger to this country may well be from the action of air forces, rather than of naval or military forces, we consider that it would be a retrograde step at this time to abolish the Air Ministry and to reabsorb the Air Service into the Admiralty and the War Office. " It is true that no other nation as yet has followed our example in this matter, but I think that I am correct in saying that some high authorities in other countries think that the course which we have taken is the right course, and are contemplating or discussing the advisability of following it in -their own case. It is notorious that more than one great Power is most anxiously canvassing the whole situation, and I think it not unlikely, to put it no higher, that we shall find our example followed if we do not ourselves abandon it. The House will be anxious to know in these circumstances how we propose to secure the proper co-operation and co ordination of the Services, and what rules we shall lay down to secure that the Army shall have the aid from the air which is required, and that the Navy shall have the aid from the air which it requires. This is a subject which has for a long time, and very carefully, been considered by a Standing Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, under the chairmanship of my right hon. friend the Lord President of the Council. As the result of that enquiry we have come to certain decisions, which I hope I may be permitted to give in their entirety, though they are not confined to co-operation between the Air Force and the Navy, because, as I have said at the beginning of my speech, it is impossible for the Government to treat this matter as the hon. and gallant Member for the West Derby Division of Liverpool (Sir R. Hall) very easily and fairly put it in moving his Amendment, as one to be decided in the light of naval considerations alone. We can only come to, and defend, our decision by a survey of the whole position. These are the conclusions at which we have arrived :— " In the first place, that the Air Force must be autonomous in matters of administration and education. " Second, that in the case of defence against air raids the Army and Navy must play a secondary rile. " Third, that in the case of military operations by land or naval operations by sea, the Air Force must be in strict subordination to the general or admiral in supreme command. " Fourth, that in other cases, such as the protection of commerce and attacks on enemy harbours and inland towns, MARCH 23, 192* the relations between the Air Force and the other Services shall be regarded rather as a matter of co-operation than of the strict subordination which is necessary when aeroplanes are acting merely as auxiliaries to other arms. " Lastly, the Government have decided to appoint a Committee which will, I say without hesitation, consist either of the Standing Committee or the Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, to examine carefully into the system of naval and air co-operation, and to advise us how we can best secure that the Air Force should be enabled to render to the Navy, and in connection with the Navy other services, the aid that they may require." . Finally Mr. Chamberlain said : " To sum up what I have said, the Government believe that to abolish the Air Ministry, to reabsorb the Air Service into the services of the Army and the Navy, would be a fatally retrograde step. Even if it removed a little friction and improved and facilitated the co-operation between the Air Services and purely naval and military operations, which is very doubtful, it would unques tionably retard the development of the Air Services in their own element, in which it may be that the future of national defence lies. To take this step would be to bring back also all the evils of divided control which existed in this matter in the early part of the War. The decision of the Government to establish a separate Air Ministry was based, as I have said, on war experience. What is now required in order to ensure the success of the present scheme is close and intimate co-operation, and that the three Services should regard themselves as the common servants of the nation in endeavour ing to attain a sihgle object. This cannot be achieved so- long as the existence of the Air Ministry and the Air Force remains in doubt, and the Government thought it right and fair to that service and to the distinguished officers who are at its head, and no less fair to the other two great Services, that they should define their attitude in this matter so that all may know what is expected of them and what system they would have to follow." Maj.-Gen. Seely expressed satisfaction with the definite and final decision of the Government to maintain a separate Air Force and Air Ministry. Rear-Admiral Sueter also expressed satisfaction with the very clear statement of Government policy, but regretted: that the Government could not set up a Ministry of Defence. Mr. Chamberlain then suggested that the amendment should be withdrawn, Sir R. Hall: "I fear it will be a great disappointment to many Members who came to the House primed with speeches, but after the statement made by the Leader of the House I beg to ask leave to withdraw my Amendment." H m m a THE AIR ESTIMATES AIR estimates for 1922-23, issued on March 17, show a net reduction on those for the current financial year of £7,516,477. The estimated gross expenditure is £15,666,500, but appro- priations-in-aid are expected to realise £4,771,500, leaving a net total of £10,895,000. This sum includes war liabilities amounting to £959,500. It is proposed to reduce the force by the equivalent of two squadrons, the decrease in officers and men provided for being 9,704. The totals for the two years compare as follows :— Net estimates, 1922-23 Revised estimates, 1921-22 . Net reduction. Numbers, all ranks, 1922-23 Numbers, all ranks, 1921-22 .£10,895,000 • 18,411,477 • ^7.516,477 31.176 40,880 Decrease .. .. .. .. 9,704 The general abstract of the estimates gives the following net figures under the various heads of expenditure :— Pay, etc., of the Air Force .. .. .. .. £3,781,000 Quartering, stores (except technical), supplies, and transport .. .. .. .. .. 1,530,000 Technical and warlike stores .. .. .. 1,295.000 Works, buildings, and land .. .. .. .. 1,826,000 Air Ministry .... .. .. .. .. 680,000 Miscellaneous effective services .. .. .. 85,000 Civil aviation.. .. .. .. .. .. 364,000 Experimental and research services .. .. 1,177,000 Half-pay, pensions, and other non-effective services 157,000 Total £10,895,000 As regards establishment, the numbers on the strength of the active force, exclusive of officers and men serving in India, are as set out below :— Air officers .. .. 20 Airmen .. ..22,195 Comm'd officers .. 2,909 Boys .. .. .. 1,700 Cadets .. .. 100 Warrant officers .. 300 Total .. ..31,024 N.C.Os. .. .. 3,800 The remainder consists of 11 air officers, 122 commissioned officers, and 5 other ranks attached to the Air Ministry, and 14 commissioned officers engaged in experimental and research services. War Liabilities In expenditure the principal reductions are in pay (£1,023,010), quartering, supplies and transport (£1,575.000), technical and warlike stores (£2,463,000), works and buildings (£1,192,000), civil aviation (£516,000), and research services (£529,000). In the case of technical and warlike stores the principal heads compare as under :— Aeroplanes, seaplanes, and engines Airships and airship engines .. Aircraft technical and warlike stores. Armament and ammunition .. Electrical stores Miscellaneous engineering stores Miscellaneous materials Hangars Mechanical and other transport Petrol and oil In the case of civil aviation the chief items of expenditure are : Civil aviation subsidies, £207,000 ; aerodromes, £38,000; 1922-23. £ .. 786,000 100 22,500 .. 139.5°° .. 79,500 22,500 66,500 2,000 .. 214,300 .. 360,000 1921-22. £ • • 1,837,000- 16,800 49,000 .. 249,500 99,000 31,000 .. 116,000 .. 46.25° .. 659,000 .. 471,000 174
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