HC Deb 10 June 1942 vol 380 cc1028-9
5 Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many fitters have been released for industry during the last 12 months?

Sir A. Sinclair

The number of Royal Air Force fitters who have been temporarily released for industry in the past 12 months is 5,867.

Mr. Edwards

Is it a fact that these men have in most cases had very expensive training, at considerable cost to the country, and that they were led to suppose that their release would result in their being used in some way on the work for which they were trained? Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why very large numbers of these men have been put to unskilled labour?

Sir A. Sinclair

I made it a condition before these men were released that they should be employed in such work as would give scope for the skill they had acquired, either in civilian employment or in the Royal Air Force.

Mr. Edwards

The right hon. Gentleman has admitted that they are not all being employed in that skilled capacity. What steps is he going to take to see that they are so employed?

Sir A. Sinclair

That is a question that should be addressed to the Minister of Labour.