In the House of Commons on Thursday, February 25th, Sir
Samuel Hoare in presenting the Air estimates stated the general lines of the Government's policy. Home defence, he said, must come first and then the provision of defence in appropriate parts of the Empire. Further, the MinistrY insist provide -the postulated help [4031 for. the Navy and Army and must develop eivil air com- munications all over the Empire. The Ministry asked for £16,000,000. The plan for raising the Honie Defence Force to fifty-two squadrons holds good. At present there are twenty-five squadrons. The Government, however, has come to the conclusion that owing to the favourable international atmosphere it will be justified in spreading the expansion of the Home Force over a longer period than was originally contemplated. Finally, Sir Samuel Hoare appealed for an end of the controversy over an independent Air Force.
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