HC Deb 26 November 1941 vol 376 cc731-3
18. Sir John Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will reconsider the position of civilian education officers who, holding commissions in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, have been demobilised but ordered to wear uniform and remain subject to Air Force discipline, although without corresponding privileges; and whether, in view of the fact that these officers perform duties, comparable with those of embodied officers in the administrative and special duties branch, at the disproportionately low net remuneration of the Burnham scale and are working under conditions which bear no relation to the civilian engagements, he will authorise their immediate re-embodiment?

Captain Balfour

The position of education officers was explained in the reply

Under-Secretary's Department does not. Will the Minister reconsider his method?

Following is the answer:

As a condition of the issue of family or dependants' allowance an airman is required to make an allotment of pay which varies from 1s. to 4s. a day in accordance with the following scales:

given to my hon. Friend on nth November. Their duties and conditions of service, apart from the wearing of uniform, are the same as in peace-time, and are not comparable with those of embodied officers of the Administrative and Special Duties Branch. As unmobilised officers of the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve, they are subject to the Air Force Act only to the same extent as are other civilians accompanying the Air Force on active service. In addition to pay on the provincial Burnham Scale for secondary teachers, they receive a special allowance to meet extra expenditure which they may incur owing to their service with the Royal Air Force.

Sir J. Mellor

In war-time are not the duties of these officers technical rather than educational, and will my right hon. and gallant Friend, therefore, in suitable cases allow them to be posted to the technical branch and so obtain Service pay?

Captain Balfour

I cannot agree with my hon. Friend that the duties which we have found the officers performing are technical. They are educational. Although the education is of a technical character, they are engaged on educational work.

Sir J. Mellor

Are they not more technical in war-time than in peace-time?

Captain Balfour

No, Sir.