§ 16. Sir Robert Youngasked the Secretary of State for Air how many men are employed in the Royal Air Force as education officers giving specialised technical instruction; how many are employed as technical officers; what is the difference in status and duties; and how many in each class have a university degree?
§ Captain BalfourThere are 482 education officers in the Royal Air Force giving instruction in technical subjects, and employed mainly in the teaching of pure and applied science. Fifty-one education officers after undergoing such special training as considered necessary, have been transferred to the technical branch. While the ordinary education officer remains a civilian member of the teaching profession, wearing uniform, the status and duties of these 51 officers are the same as those of other Royal Air Force officers in the technical branch and their work is mainly of an engineering character. They have certain disciplinary and administrative responsibilities under the Air Force Act and a liability for general service. The number of graduates in the two categories referred to are 478 and 49 respectively.
§ Sir R. YoungIs it a fact that these education officers teach the technical officers, and after that has been done the technical officers have a large increase of salary over the education officers?
§ Captain BalfourNo, Sir, that is not quite so. Technical branch officers may from time to time give instruction, but they are predominantly employed in organising and supervising duties. The officers of the education branch are engaged in technical instruction whole-time, and the duties of the two branches are really different.
§ Sir R. YoungAre education officers allowed to transfer to the technical side if they have the ability?
§ Captain BalfourNo, Sir, the education officers are required for educational purposes, and technical officers are required for Royal Air Force technical purposes.
§ Mr. Ivor ThomasIs it a fact that education officers are not regarded as normal R.A.F. officers and that there is discontent at their status?
§ Captain BalfourThat is a very old question, which has been raised many times. There are more sides to it than can be debated by Question and answer.