Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Air Force. – in the House of Commons am ar 10 Rhagfyr 1941.
Mr Reginald Purbrick
, Liverpool, Walton
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the whole of the ordinary ground personnel of the Royal Air Force aerodromes are armed and receive the training of soldiers so that, in the case of emergency, they may be able to do their share properly in the defence of their aerodrome?
Mr Harold Balfour
, Isle of Thanet
Yes, Sir.
Mr Reginald Purbrick
, Liverpool, Walton
asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the present organisation for the defence of every aerodrome, or whether he will consider placing the defence of all aerodromes under one supreme command to work in co-operation with the Royal Air Force?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
Work upon this aspect of our defences has been continuous for many months, and improvements both in organisation and in actual defences are being continually made.
Mr Reginald Purbrick
, Liverpool, Walton
Is it not a fact that aerodromes are defended in a fashion different from one another, and would it not be better to synchronise the methods so that they could all be fortified in the same way, and that that could only be done by bringing them under one supreme command?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
That is a matter for consideration. We are getting the best advice we can from experts.
Mr Reginald Purbrick
, Liverpool, Walton
I asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider it.
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Aberdeen North
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Air Force and Army officers, between whom the responsibility for the defence of aerodromes is divided, are completely dissatisfied with the organisation?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.