Earl Winterton Denies Air Programme Is In Arrears

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1938, Page 5

Earl Winterton Denies Air Programme Is In Arrears

(Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 12. nr. HE HOUSE OF COMMONS WAS CROWDED FOR THE DEBATE ON 1 THE AIR MINISTRY VOTE. EARL WINTERTON, WHO WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED DEPUTY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO VISCOUNT SWINTON, THE AIR MINISTER, INTERVENING UN THE DEBATE AT AN EARLY STAGE, MET THE OPPOSITION’S ATTACK ON THE AIR PROGRAMME BY THE DISCLOSURE OF WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A “NEW PROGRAMME” WHICH “ENTIRELY OVERSHADOWS THE PROGRAMME WE UNDERTOOK THREE YEARS AGO, WHICH, IN ITSELF, WAS ABSOLUTELY UNPRECEDENTED IN PEACE TIME.’ As an indication of the scale of the new programme, the Minister mentioned that in the personnel an expansion of no less than 40,000 officers and men would be required, bringing the strength of the Royal Air Force to 110,000. Lord Winterton gave his assurance that the idea that the execution of the programme was greatly in arrears was absolutely mistaken. The scheme under which the first air line strength of 1750 was to be reached by next April was all up to schedule, That strength would certainly be reached by the date stipulated and, he believed, considerably earlier. The position regarding reserves was also satisfactory. Moreover, the scale on which factories had beeh planned and orders placed would make it possible, if the necessary labour was available, rap-, idly to extend the output to meet the immense demands of the new programme.

Fifty Per Cent Increase. The. Ministry had informed the Government that, given necessary equipment, it was estimated that the output of aeroplanes and engines could be increaesd by well over 50 per cent in the next 12 months and during the succeeding year could be increased to figures three times the present size. He declared emphatically that the R.A.F., as a whole, was not behind other air forces in up-to-dateness and newness. Its machines of existing type were satisfactory and a few types were even better. The production of em gines was increasing rapidly, and in this connection a “shadow scheme” had fully' justified itself.. There was now a vast field of actual and potential production. Purchases From U.S.

Dealing with purchases from the United States, Lord Winlerton said, ii must be remembered that production in the United States was small compared with that in the United Kingdom. It was only certain types —mostly for training—that might be bought. ; : He said that there was no real hope of aircraft being turned out by mass production in the sense that some people used the phrase, nor did those methods exist for such work in any other country. He could say that the apprehension that firms in ! the aircraft industry were not full up with orders now was unjustified.

The industry was in a much better position today than three years ago. To undertake the vast expansions it was required that the numbers employed should be increased from 30,000 to over 90,000. Foreign Powers’ Programmes.

Lord Winterton referring to the programmes of foreign Powers, gave his assurance that the British programme had been framed in the light of the best estimates as to the large scale of forces which could be brought against Britain in war. It was designed as a formidable deterrent against aggression, and an effective defence in the event of attack. The defence of Britain must be regarded as a whole. They were carrying out rearmament on a vast scale, with extensions, refitments, rebuilding and re-equipment in all three services, at a cost approaching astronomical proportions.