§ 20. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a statement with regard to the provision of a balloon barrage for the North Staffordshire area; what are the requirements of the area in regard to personnel; and what is the position of the Auxiliary Air Force in the area?
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood)It is not at present proposed to form a balloon barrage unit in North Staffordshire, nor is there a flying squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force in that area. There is, however, an active Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve centre at Stoke-on-Trent and a sub-recruiting depot for the regular Royal Air Force at Hanley, which is being converted to a branch depot. My Department does not lay down any definite personnel requirements for a particular part of the country, but the area in which 2855 North Staffordshire is included is rendering considerable assistance to the Royal Air Force in this respect.
25. Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Air for what reason medical and dental officers in the Auxiliary Air Force are strictly forbidden to fly, while similar officers in the regular Royal Air Force are encouraged to learn to do so?
§ Sir K. WoodMedical officers in the Auxiliary Air Force are encouraged to fly as passengers in order to gain air experience, but it is not practicable to give them the same facilities for learning to fly as are given to regular medical officers, whose whole time is at the disposal of the Service. There are no dental officers in the Auxiliary Air Force.
§ Mr. EverardWhen a medical officer has previously been a flying officer, can he have facilities for flying?
§ Sir K. WoodI will examine into that.