§ 16. Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that his undertaking that the engine-room artificers of the Royal Flying Corps should be paid a wage of from 6s. to 9s. per day has not been carried out; and if he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to increase of pay from 6s., according to length of service and proficiency?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe majority of engine-room artificers who have been graded in the Royal Flying Corps are now in receipt of pay at the rate of 9s. a day. Some were graded at this rate on qualifying. In some other cases advancement from the 6s. to the 9s. rate, which depends upon service and proficiency, has been allowed. Men under instruction, but not yet graded in the corps, retain their naval rates of pay with an allowance of 1s. a day.
31. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked if the Secretary for War will state what progress has been made in departmentalising aeronautics at the War Office; and, if a new Department is erected, who will be appointed director, and will he be provided with an adequate staff?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)In view of the increasing importance of this branch of the Army, I am now in communication with the Treasury with regard to the establishment of a separate Department of the War Office to administer the Army Air Service. The head of this new Department will be Brigadier-General Henderson, who is a certificated pilot, as Director-General, and he will have direct control over all parts of this service.
§ Colonel SEELYThat is another question. I will endeavour to see that as far as possible it is made quite clear what, sum s spent.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill the right hon. Gentleman also keep the suns actually expended on aviation quite separate from barrack construction and the purchase of land?
§ Colonel SEELYI hope as far as possible to make plain in the Estimates how much has been spent.