asked the Minister of Defence to what extent administrative and operational co-ordination in the three Services has been achieved since his Ministry was established; and if he will make a statement on his future plans in this direction.

Under Ministers, the operations of the Services are fully coordinated through the organisation of the Chiefs of Staff which was described in the White Paper on the Central Organisation for Defence published in October, 1946. That White Paper also described the machinery to be established for co-ordination in the administrative sphere, including the appointment of a Standing Committee of Service Ministers under my Chairmanship. For a report on the progress made, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Defence White Paper early next year.

Could not my right hon. Friend now detail his achievements more precisely than he has done? Is it not possible to achieve more co-ordination in such directions as maintenance, pay, photographic reconnaissance, etc., and thereby cut down the manpower involved?

All these matters have been under examination. I certainly cannot deal with them by question and answer.