§ 30. Mr. Geoffrey Hutchinsonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction felt by education officers of the R.A.F. Educational Service who are not mobilised, he will now reconsider the conditions under which these officers are at present employed in the R.A.F.
§ 36. Mr. Kenneth Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the committee appointed to consider the status of education officers has submitted a Report; and whether he proposes to publish it.
§ Sir A. SinclairI have recently received and am considering the report of the committee which was set up to inquire into the functions and organisation of the R.A.F. Educational Service. It is not contemplated that the report shall be published.
§ Mr. HutchinsonCan my right hon. Friend say when it is expected that the report of this committee will be available for publication to the House?
§ Sir A. SinclairNo, Sir, I say that it is not contemplated that the report will be published.
§ Mr. LindsayIn view of the fact that the demand for the appointment of the committee came from all sections of the House and that these officers are in a very anomalous position compared with other officers, why should we be prevented from knowing the results of the committee's inquiry?
§ Sir A. SinclairNo, Sir, there was no demand for the appointment of this committee from all sections of the House. I claim the initiative for appointing the committee, and there was no great demand for it. The report has only been received and is now under consideration. It raises the whole question of the future of the educational services in the Royal Air Force, and it will require very careful consideration, not only in my Department, but in consultation with other Departments.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishWill my right hon. Friend convey to the committee which is sitting, how very unfavourably the emoluments of these officers compare with those of flight-lieutenants and other very junior officers?
§ Sir A. SinclairThe committee has ceased to sit and has reported.
§ Mr. Edmund HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the anomalous position of these officers in the event of accidents, as compared with other officers in the Service?
§ Sir A. SinclairI gather that my hon. Friend has a Question on the Paper on that subject.
§ Mr. HutchinsonIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of these replies, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at a convenient time on the Adjournment.