§ 7 and 8. Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he will consider a release to other Services of all officers and men of military age and medical fitness now employed in balloon barrage crews;
(2) what decisions have now been reached for the employment of members of the Women's Royal Air Force in balloon barrage so as to release men of military age and fitness?
Captain BalfourThe duties of balloon barrage crews are such that they could not be performed exclusively by men of low medical category or over military age. Measures are being taken to transfer from Balloon Command men who can be more usefully employed elsewhere, but this process is, to some extent, governed by the rate at which replacements can be trained. A large number of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel are already performing various duties in connection with the balloon barrage organisation and the possibility of extending the scope of their employment within the Command is under investigation.