§ 33. Mr. Montagueasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, as the hutments at Henlow depot are temporary, and in view of the bad effect of invidious comparisons upon contentment and 1181 encouragement, he will consider the desirability of quartering the whole of the personnel in up-to-date barracks?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)Up-to-date permanent accommodation will be provided as soon as the building programme allows.
§ Mr. MontagueDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman know that there is a great amount of dissatisfaction in this matter, and will he take steps to expedite the building of proper accommodation?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadWe are very anxious to get more permanent accommodation as quickly as possible. The Force is at present undergoing a great deal of expansion, but I have no reason to believe that there is any cause for complaint about the accommodation.
§ Mr. MontagueDoes the Minister know that I possess letters in which complaint is expressed in extreme terms, that I can let him have at least one, which is not confidential, because it is unsigned, and that there are many others?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI do not know what letters the hon. Member possesses, but if he likes to send any of them to me, I shall be glad to look at them.
§ 34. Mr. Montagueasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the domestic fatigues performed by men in training upon mechanical work at Henlow depot are in addition to their full day's work at the bench; and, if so, whether he will consider conforming in this matter to the ordinary military practice of allowing parade exemption for fatigues?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the nature of the domestic fatigue carried out by airmen under training in mechanical work at Henlow. These are confined to the cleaning and tidying of those portions of the barrack rooms in which an airman lives. General camp fatigues and other unskilled duties are carried out by airmen specially enlisted for the purpose or by civilian labour.
§ Mr. MontagueDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman know that these men on training often, after a full day's work at the bench, are expected to study for examinations, and does he also know 1182 that this system does not apply to any other depot in the Service?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI am quite sure that there is no desire that fatigues of a domestic character should in any way interfere with the technical training of the men in question.
§ Mr. MontagueI am sorry to persist, but does not the Minister realise the importance of the question that I have asked, and that if there is a question of fatigues at all in ordinary military practice there is an allowance off parades? Will he answer that question?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadAs I say, I am not in the least aware that the performance of these minor duties of a domestic nature is interfering with the proper performance of technical training.
§ Mr. MontagueThat does not answer my question.