§ 40. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether ex-service men in the Inspection Department of the Air Ministry are being dismissed while non-service men and non-regimental officers are being retained; and is he aware that these non-service men are connected with the Deputy Controller by ties of affinity, consanguinity, or otherwise?
§ Major TRYONThe staff of the inspection directorate is still in process of reduction to peace establishment. In considering what persons should be retained, preference is given to ex-Service men. Non-Service men and non-regimental officers are retained only where it is clear that they possess superior qualifications for the work, namely, special aeronautical and engineering qualifications not possessed to an equal extent by the ex-Service men being dismissed. With regard to the second part of the question, I have made special inquiry into the complaint made to the Air Ministry on March the 10th, to which, I presume, my hon. Friend refers, and I am satisfied that it is fully covered by my answer to the first part.