BRITAIN STEPS UP ESTIMATES FOR ALL DEFENCE SERVICES WITH LARGE VOTE FOR RESEARCH

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1949, Page 5

BRITAIN STEPS UP ESTIMATES FOR ALL DEFENCE SERVICES WITH LARGE VOTE FOR RESEARCH

LONDON, February 16. The Defence Estimates of Britain total £759,000,000 for 1949-50, or £67,260,000 above those for the current year. The strictly service estimates are greater by £107,500,000. The forces by the encl of next financial year are designed to number 750,000 in personnel. The call-up will be 174,000.

A White Paper on defence gives Britain's total defence estimates for 1949-50 as £759,860,000 compared with the estimate of £692,600,000 for 1948- The comparative totals for 1949- and 1948-49 are made up as follows:— Admirality £189,250,000 (£153,000,000). War Office: £30,470,000 (£305,000,000). Air Ministry: £207,450,000 (£173,000,000). Supply Ministry: £57,750,000 (£61,000,000). Defence Ministry: £710,000 (£600,000). The provision in the service estimates for 1949-50 is £654,500,000 compared with £547,000,000 last year. Of the increase of about £10,750,000, about one-third is accounted for by the increased service rates of pay, increased civilian wages, increased cost of insurance charges for servicemen and civilians and higher prices for supplies. Increased expenditure on reserve and auxiliary forces accounts for over £5,000,000 and the bulk of the balance goe t ' to equipment. The intention by the era of 1949-50 financial year is to have the forces’ strength at 750,000, including: Navy 146,000, Army 391,000 and Air Force 213,000. The manpower plan provides for the call-up of 174,000 national servicemen. including Navy, 10.000; Army 120,000; and Air Force 44,000. The key figure of the defence estimates is the provision of £66,000,000 for the expanded equipment programme. This figure represents about two-thirds of the £107,500,000 increase in the effective Army, Navy, and Air Force total of £654,500,000. The £66,000.000 has been earmarked for “production, research works and supplies.” The White Paper says: The Colonial Government forces must be built up to the extent necessary to deal with the present disturbed conditions. The size and composition of such forces is now being studied.” Jet Bombers Not Mentioned (Rec. 8.0) LONDON, Feb. 1G The fact that jet bombers are not mentioned at all in the Defence White Paper was widely commented upon by Royal Air Force and civil aviation experts, says the Daily Mail’s aeronautical correspondent. It was hoped the White Paper I would give reassuring news about the British development of this vital weapon. PRODUCTION PROGRAMME The Times Parliamentary correspondent says: The production programme represents the minimum necessary to cover the year’s maintenance requirements, after the fullest use of the remaining war stocks; to provide for the build-up or overhaul of some of the more necessary emergency reserves in continuation of steps authorised in September, 1948; and to allow for “the modest instalment of modernisation”. The naval programme provides mainly for the maintenance requirements of the active fleet arid for the Reserve Fleet, refitting. Only a token provision is made for new construction. Additional aircraft will be provided, and the de- i velopment of new types will be continued. The bulk of funds available to the Army will be used to meet ordinary maintenance requirements, and reserve deficiencies, and for the overhaul or modernisation of existing equipment. The R.A.F. programme continues at an increasing rate the reequipment of lighter squadrons with the latest type jet aircraft, and provides for the gradual replacement of transport and training aircraft by modern British types.

WEST EUROPE RADIO SYSTEM

The Daily Mail's political correspondent says: The White Paper reveals that Western European countries will have a common radar airraid warning system, based on British ground equipment. Western Union Chiefs of Staff Committee, under Lord Montgomery’s chairmanship, has worked out this plan. Supplies of radar equipment are being organised, and the system will be. working in the near future. TORY PRESS COMPLAINT

The Daily Express asked how much of the increased expenditure that lhe White Paper revealed, was forced on Britain through her association with the Western Union. The newspaper pointed out that the comparative defence expenditure of the four main Western Union Powers was Britain £l5 per head; France £9; Holland £5 10s; and Belgium £4. It added that Britain is committed militarily and financially beyond her capacity —and with no assurance that the United States will be by her side if trouble comes. The “Times” in a leading article on the Defence White Paper says: “Ever since the rearmament programme was announced in September, defence has appeared a weak spot in the Government’s policy. An impression has been created, rightly or wrongiy. of divided counsel. The Opposition charge is not that defence is neglected but that the Government has failed' to convince that it is using large sums of money and large numbers m men in a way to produce a commensurate result'in an effective defensive power. The White Paner does not answer questions Mi’ Churchill and other critics will ask. Parliament will welcome the stress placed on enurpment, but plainer assurances will be demanded before the critics can .be persuaded that, even at this price,