BRITAIN'S DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 9

BRITAIN'S DEFENCES

ESTIMATES FOR 1937

LARGE INCREASE

MORE MEN AND MACHINES

■ (British Official Wireless.) (Received March 6, 11.20 a.m.)

RUGBY, March 5,

I The Air Estimates for the coming financial year were issued today. They amount to a total of £88,588,600 gross, for which the comparable figure for 1936 was £55,705,600, including an additional sum granted in the Supplementary Estimates last July. This is the: gross total, including the Fleet Air Arm, plant, and other appropriations in aid to the amount of £5,068,600, the net estimate, apart from loan provision, being £82,500,000. The net total to be voted by Parliament is, however, £56,500,000, as allowance has been made for a special appropriation in aid of £26,000,000 from the Consolidated Fund, as provided for under the Defence Loans Bill. But for this allowance ' the net total for 1937 would have been £82,500,000, representing an increase of £31,800,000 on the corresponding figure for 1936. 24 MORE SQUADRONS. In a memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates Lord Swintori, Air Min.ister, states that the present scheme of expansion provides for the Metropolitan Air Force with a first-line strength of about 1750 aircraft in 124 squadrons, of which 100 will have been formed by the end of March. During the summer the number will rise to 124 squadrons, including 20 squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force with an approximate first-line strength of 1500 aircraft. It is also proposed to create technical units of the Auxiliary Force for operating the balloon barrage in connection- with the defence scheme for the London area. The work of organisation is proceeding, orders for the necessary balloons and equipment have been placed, and deliveries are already being received. Provision is also made for increasing the Fleet air arm from 217 to 278 first-line aircraft during the course of the year, in conformity with the Admiralty requirements for aircraft carriers and catapult ships. PERSONNEL" OF 70,000. The personnel of the Royal Air Force, which was raised to 55,000 last July, is in the present estimates to be raised ti 70,000.. The personnel figures are exclusive of officers and men serving on the India establishment. Provision for pay is increased by £1,776,000 to £8,466,000. The estimates provide £18,000,000 to be spent on land and buildings, including the construction and equipment of shadow factories. This is an increase of £8,650,000 over the similar provision made in 1936-37, but towards this expenditure £14,000,000 is to be provided by loan. - Extensions, either permanent or temporary in character, have been carried out at 34 of 62 aerodromes. Thirteen additional aerodrome sites are now in occupation, and in addition five civil aerodromes have been equipped and are being used for service purposes. Work is in progress on another/ 26 sites, and further sites will be acquired during the course of the year. The amount set aside for Civil Aviation in 1937-38 is £2,315,000, an increase of £1,550,000. This large increase is stated to arise directly from aviation developments of policy—the inauguration of the Empire mail scheme, the extended organisation of Empire routes, and experimental overseas flights, including flights across the North Atlantic, etc.