HC Deb 02 August 1944 vol 402 c1365
20. Captain Plugge

asked the Secretary of State for Air why airmen holding ground staff rank in tradesmen category who are pre-war regulars and have chosen to make the R.A.F. their career, are not granted their routine length of service promotion due to their rank whilst serving as prisoners of war, whereas in the same prison camps airmen not on ground staff who have joined since the war and hold temporary rank, receive their promotion regularly when due on length of service; and will he discontinue discriminating against regular airmen in favour of temporary ones.

Sir A. Sinclair

My hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken, for there is no discrimination between Regular and non-Regular airmen in the matter of promotion. Presumably he is referring to the comparison between the promotion system of aircrews and ground personnel. In the former category this is based on time, whilst in the later it is determined by establishment vacancies. Aircrew prisoners, therefore, receive promotion which they would obtain in the ordinary way, but it is not possible to promote ground personnel against establishment vacancies which they are unable to fulfil. On repatriation they are, however, granted the rank which they would have attained but for the interruption of their effective service.

Captain Plugge

Will my right hon. Friend, if I submit the details to him, look into a special case which I have in mind?

Sir A. Sinclair

Very gladly.