§ 69 and 70. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry (1) how many Colonial cadets were in training at the date of the Armistice; and how many have received the gratuity and the uniform allowance of £50; and (2) what is the position of Colonial cadets who have put in for a deferred passage; and whether they are able to draw their allowances for kit, etc., in the meantime?
§ Major-General SEELYI propose to reply to these questions together. As a rather long statement is required to make the position clear, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the Answer referred to:
§ The number of Colonial cadets in training with the Royal Air Force at the date of the Armistice was about 5,187.
§ Overseas cadets who accepted deferred repatriation and were demobilised before 15th February, 1919, will be granted honorary commissions in the Royal Air Force, and the same outfit allowances as those given to Imperial cadets, which are as follows: £50, less the value of any issues in kind, to those cadets who qualified as observers or passed qualification "B" before 1st January, 1919.
§ Those cadets who did not so qualify will be reimbursed for expenditure incurred on account of outfit up to a limit of £35, less the value of any issues in kind. Overseas cadets who accepted deferred repatriation after 15th February, 1919, will be given temporary commissions in the Royal Air Force from that date until the date of their demobilisation and an outfit allowance of £50, less the value of any issues in kind. A large number of cadets, in anticipation of being commissioned, 753 purchased outfit and signed orders on Messrs. Cox and Company authorising them to pay the bills incurred from the outfit allowance which would become due to them on being commissioned. The amount of these orders will be deducted from the amount of the outfit allowance in each case.
§ As regards the issue of the additional pay, outfit allowance, etc., to these cadets, as well as to the other Overseas cadets who did not accept deferred repatriation, it has not been possible in the time available to obtain all the required information and to effect the necessary adjustments in the cadets' accounts to arrive at the balance that may be due to them, but this will shortly be accomplished. Many of the cadets concerned are paid by the Dominion Forces or have been returned to the Dominion Forces for repatriation, from whom nominal rolls are being obtained giving the necessary information for calculating the amount of additional pay and outfit allowance to which these cadets now become entitled. In the meantime substantial advances on account of pay and outfit allowance have been made to cadets prior to embarkation, and the balance of their accounts will be remitted to them as soon as possible.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give his personal attention to the question of the payment of these cadets, and the various other ratings? Is he aware that on about five different occasions during the War the uniform was changed, and this heavily penalised the poorer cadets?
§ Major-General SEELYI have, given personal attention to the matter, and will continue to do so. It is a difficult question. But I think the answer I will circulate will show that a good deal has been done.