asked the Prime Minister whether he can assure the House that His Majesty's Government are now informed with reasonable accuracy of the bomber strength of the Luftwaffe, and are satisfied that the total existing strength of Admiralty and Royal Air Force front line fighter machines, as assisted by machine-gun and anti-aircraft defences, is sufficient to meet any early intensification of air attack?

I am not prepared to state the extent of the information in the possession of His Majesty's Government as to the strength of enemy forces. In the event of any early intensification of air attack I am satisfied that the Royal Air Force as well as our ground defences will give a good account of themselves. The House is of course aware that our methods for meeting and countering air attack on whatever scale it may develop are continuously being strengthened and developed.

Is the Prime Minister aware that I did not ask him to state the extent of the information in the possession of the Government, but whether he is satisfied that the Government are sufficiently well informed as to the fighting strength of the German air force? May I further ask him whether it has been conveyed to him that well informed persons feel that the respite from criticism which the Production Department of the Air Ministry has enjoyed is rapidly drawing to a close? May I have an answer to these two Supplementary Questions?

I have already given all the answer I can.