HC Deb 23 October 1919 vol 120 cc173-4
14. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Air Ministry how many women, officers and other ranks, respectively, were in the Women's Royal Air Force on 1st October, 1919; and how many women, other than those in the Women's Royal Air Force, were employed by the Royal Air Force on the same date?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Major-General Seely)

The numerical strength of the Women's Royal Air Force on the 30th of September, 1919, was:

Officers 164
Other ranks 5,800
It is proposed to reduce this number to 400 by the 1st of December, and to 200 by the 1st January, 1920. The number of female civil subordinates on the same date was 2,529.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Are we to understand that the 400 and 200 respectively apply to all ranks, or only to officers?

Major-General SEELY

Of course, to all ranks.

Mr. BILLING

To what extent does the right hon. Gentleman propose to reduce the female Air Force?

Major-General SEELY

That is given in my answer. The hon. Member did not hear my answer. I said 400 on 1st December and 200 on 1st January.