36.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will give particulars as to the number of the personnel of the Royal Air Force for the years 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, and 1930–31, respectively, and the annual cost. of the service for the same periods?
The numbers of personnel in the Royal Air Force paid for out of Air Votes are set out in a table which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am not sure what my hon. Friend means by the annual cost of the service. If he will be so good as to communicate with the Under-Secretary of State for Air, he will endeavour to supply the figures required.
Following is the trade:
| Number of Personnel (exclusive of those serving in India). | ||||
| 1926 | … | … | … | 30,640* |
| 1927 | … | … | … | 28,139* |
| 1928 | … | … | … | 28,888* |
| 1929 | … | … | … | 29,240*‡ |
| 1930 | … | … | … | 32,000† |
* Average for the year. | ||||
| † Estimated maximum allowed to be borne at any period of the year. | ||||
| ‡ On 29th January, 1930, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Colchester, a figure of 30,670 was given as the number of the Royal Air Force in July, 1929. This figure, however, included the R.A.F. in India. | ||||