Although It 1s proposed to release certain unite temporarily attached to_ the Mediterranean Fleet to, Home station and stations abroad, it Is thi Intention to maintain the strength in the Mediterranean at somewhat higher level than formerly.
The movements contemplated are considered desirable from a point of view of Fleet administration and the! slying of overdue leave.
Feply to question in the Hous of Commons, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, said that seven battleships and battle cerulsers were, at present in every way ready for sea with full peace com-piements and one was now commis-Sioned. for trials after completing, large repairs.
Seven others are either undergoing modernization or large repairs or are refiting, manned by reduced crews, or performing training services, but of these seven, all but three can be made ready for sea at short notice if required, he added, The Increased provision for _the Royal Air Force brings the estimated expenditure for that service this year to. £50,700,000, which is £24,715,000 more than the net estimate for 1995-36.
The new expenditure is necessary implement the polley foreshadowed the White Paper of March 3, which. contemplated an increase of frst-line aircraft at Home to about 1,780, ex-eluding the Fleet air-arm, Overseas Units Increased
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.