The Marquess of Zetland, Gecretary of State for India and Burma, in reply, said that the Government had already taken steps to review defence preparations, and that the review was in such an advanced state that Lord Strabolgi's proposal would mean a waste of time and a duplication of work, Regarding supplies, Lord Zetland declared that "we are now beginning to reap the harvest."
In October, 1936, the strength of the air defence personnel was 663 officers and 8,798 other ranks. In October, this year, there were 2,027 officers and 45,223 other ranks.
Anti-aircraft guns, the Marquess of Zetland continued, were being delivered at three times the rate of six months ago.
The establishment of a Ministry of Supply now, when the rearmament programme was bearing fruit, he pointed out, would have the effect of slowing production instead of increasing it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.