PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
RAF DEBATE (27 January 1993)

That this House condemns the decision of the Government to change the service debate on the Royal Air Force to a debate on events in the Gulf without making provision for a separate Royal Air Force debate; regards as incredible any suggestion that discussing these two subjects in one debate, on a motion that the House should adjourn, can do justice to either; notes that the last Royal Air Force debate was in May 1991 and that the July 1992 Defence Estimates have yet to be debated; is alarmed that a pattern of declining opportunities for Parliamentary debate appears to be developing at a time of immense change in British defence requirements and priorities; regards the Government's effective emasculation of the Royal Air Force debate as indicative of this pattern, and as an insult to the Royal Air Force as it approaches its 75th anniversary; and demands that provision be made for a Royal Air Force debate in Government time as soon as possible.

Sponsored by:
Mike Gapes (The Independent Group for Change)