§ 50. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total number of other ranks who have applied for extension of service to complete for pension during 1933, 1934 and 1935, and the total numbers allowed so to do?
§ Sir P. SASSOONDuring the three years in question 4,126 eligible airmen applied to re-engage to complete time for pension. 2,247 of these have been accepted for re-engagement to date, and even this does not represent the total numbers that will be re-engaged from among those applicants. Prolongation of regular service for periods up to four years has also been offered to all skilled men not accepted for re-engagement, and a large proportion have accepted. I should add that the numbers re-engaged depend on requirements from time to time in non-commissioned and warrant ranks; the numbers now accepted reflect the expansion of the Service now taking place.