AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 3

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

SHARING THE COST. RUGBY, July 29. Reference was made by the Home Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare) to the difference which had arisen between local authorities and the central Government about the apportionment of the cost of air raid precautions. He informed the House of Commons that legislation would be required to place Government expenditure on air raid precautions on a proper statutory basis, and to remove doubt about the powers of local authorities. A Bill for the purpose was being drafted. When it had reached a more advanced stage an opportunity would be afforded for representatives of local authorities to confer with the Government, and he hoped it might be possible to reach a satisfactory agreement on the allocation of expenditure. Whatever financial arrangements were ultimately decided upon would be applied retrospectively to a date which, it was contemplated, would be January 1 of this year. He trusted that local authorities which had not begun the preparation of plans would not think it necessary to wait until the financial arrangements had been placed on a statutory basis. BRITISH NAVY. THE AIR ARM. RUGBY, July 31. The Government’s decision regarding the future of the Fleet Air Arm was announced to the Commons by Mr. Chamberlain. He said the proposals, which the Government had under consideration, referred to two classes of aircraft. The first class includes all air-craft known as the Fleet Air Arm. They were under the operational control of the Admiralty, but as part 6f the Royal Air Force, under administrative control of the Air Ministry. The second class includes shore base aircraft employed in co-operation with naval forces. These are under the operational as well as the administrative control of the Air Ministry. The Government decided in the case of the second class, which includes flying boats, there shall be no alteration in the present system. In the case of tlie Fleet Air Arm, the Government considers these should be placed under the administrative control of the Admiralty. The change can only be carried out generally with the fullest co-operation between the two services, and he added: I shall be happy to give the assurance that this co-operation will be given without reserve. I hope these decisions will be accepted in every quarter as final, and a satisfactory settlement of a prolonged controversy which it is in the public interests to close.