HC Deb 25 October 1939 vol 352 cc1376-7
22. Flight-Lieutenant Grant-Ferris

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a number of unskilled men have been taken on by the Air Ministry and given a short course in engineering; that in many instances, before the completion of this course, they have been posted to maintenance units and are earning as much as £5 or £6 a week, whereas their teachers, members of the Royal Air Force and highly skilled men, are earning considerably less; and whether he will take steps to modify this state of affairs which is causing considerable dissatisfaction at the various units concerned?

Sir K. Wood

A number of men who have received training in engineering at Ministry of Labour centres have been entered for employment at maintenance units on work suited to their capacity after a further period of specialised training in Air Force establishments. In the present exceptional circumstances, their normal wages are supplemented in some instances by overtime earnings, but the information available does not suggest that men receive the amounts mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend. I would add that comparison with Air Force emoluments is apt to be misleading, since service personnel receive services in kind and are entitled to non-effective benefits for which civilian personnel are not eligible.

Flight-Lieutenant Grant-Ferris

If I bring actual cases to my right hon. Friend's notice, will he go into them, as I can assure him that there is great dissatisfaction in these units in this connection?

Sir K. Wood

Yes, Sir, I will look into any cases which are brought to my notice.

Mr. George Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that none of these wages are brought down, but that the others are brought up?

Sir Robert Young

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to employ skilled men for this work, and not unskilled men?

Sir K. Wood

I have already replied to that question.

Mr. Logan

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that men who have had only six months' training in engineering have been put on the maintenance staff, and skilled engineers have not had that employment given them?