HC Deb 06 April 1944 vol 398 cc2166-7
39 and 40. Lieut.-Colonel Marlowe

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether education officers in the R.A.F., unlike their opposite numbers in the other services, are still employed on a civilian basis, although holding commissions; and whether, as many of them are engaged on technical instruction which is indistinguishable from that given by officers employed on a service basis, he will now take steps to remove this anomalous status;

(2) whether the terms of service of education officers in the R.A.F. permit them to terminate their engagements on giving three months' notice; are they then free to take other appointments; what proportion of them is liable to service overseas; and if he is satisfied that, so long as the present civilian status continues, sufficient numbers of them will be available for service abroad when required.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)

Officers of the Royal Air Force Educational Service hold commissions in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve but they are not embodied and they retain their civilian status. In general, those engaged on technical instruction are employed in the teaching of scientific principles and their application to Service problems. The conditions of service provide that appointments are normally terminable by three months' notice on either side, though an officer who resigns is, of course, subject to any order or direction which may be in force or may be made under Defence Regulations. A large proportion of the Education Officers are liable for overseas service and arrangements will be made to ensure that a sufficient number will be available for overseas service as and when required. At this stage of the war, it would not, I think, be justifiable to make far-reaching changes in the status or organisation of this Service.

Lieut.-Colonel Marlowe

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain why the Royal Air Force is alone in this attitude towards education officers.

Captain Balfour

Because the Royal Air Force educational service is different from the educational services of either the Army or the Navy.

Mr. Petherick

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman refrain from following the example of the Army, in which practically every civilian non-combatant is at once thrown into uniform and very frequently plastered with red tabs?