asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an estimate of the daily cost of the Home Defence Service, and, in particular, of the Observer Corps; and whether any economies can be effected by a redistribution of posts and a reduction in the number of inspecting officers, in view of the change in the character of the war?

I am not sure what the right hon. Gentleman means by the Home Defence Services. He will appreciate that the Service Departments are all concerned with the various aspects of home defence. Whilst I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that, so far as the Air Ministry is concerned, every effort is made to avoid unnecessary expenditure, it would not be in the public interest to disclose the daily cost of such items as the Observer Corps.