§ 61. Mr. Loftusasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total number employed by the Air Ministry as inspectors of production in factories in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and whether all such inspectors are engineers or skilled mechanics?
§ Earl WintertonThe Air Ministry does not employ inspectors of production in factories. The only inspectors in factories are those of the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate of the Air Ministry, who number 824, and whose function is to ensure that material and methods of construction of aeronautical equipment are in accordance with specification. All these men are engineers or skilled mechanics.
§ Mr. LoftusWill my Noble Friend inquire whether there is unnecessary inspection, and whether many skilled engineers are not diverted from production work to this unnecessary inspection?
§ Earl WintertonI do not think that that is the case. My view is the exact opposite. I think it is extremely necessary, where the safety and welfare of the Air Force are at stake, that there should be the closest inspection.