§ 12. Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he is aware that delays in the delivery of aircraft are due to the slackness and inefficiency of the Aircraft Inspection Department; what complaints he has received regarding this Department; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position?
§ The Minister of Aircraft Production (Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon)I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion of slackness and inefficiency on the part of the Aeronautical Inspection Department; nor am I aware of any well-founded recent complaints against that Department. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me know what he has in mind, I will look into the matter.
§ Mr. Hall-CaineDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that many of the members of the Aeronautical Inspection Department are holding up valuable material through their refusal to work on Saturday afternoons and Sundays? Will he look into it?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI will certainly look into it. Owing to the recent weather the Aeronautical Inspection Department has had a great strain put on it, but on the whole I am very satisfied with it. I know that inspection is a tiresome thing, but it has saved many lives.
Mr. Graham WhiteHas the inspection Department been increased to correspond with the increase in the volume of work it has had to do, and has my right hon. and gallant Friend any difficulty in obtaining competent people to carry out the work on the standard that we had in the earlier stages? If he has any difficulty, will he advertise and make every effort to obtain proper personnel?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonWe are not dissatisfied with the personnel; indeed, we are extremely pleased with it. We have increased the numbers.
§ Mr. SimmondsIs not the Aeronautical Inspection Department very much overworked, and, taking this into consideration, is it not doing a splendid job of work?