HC Deb 09 February 1944 vol 396 cc1746-7
13. Mr. E. P. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the pay of a sergeant-pilot is 13s. 6d. per day and that of other members of an air crew 12s. per day; and whether, in view of the equal risk and often equal responsibility of all air-crew members, he will consider raising the pay to 13s. 6d. per day all round.

Sir A. Sinclair

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Frankel) on 23rd June last and to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. Stewart) on 13th July last, of which I am sending him copies.

Mr. Smith

Is it not a fact that the terms quoted in the Question are really too favourable, and that for the first two years of an air gunner's career he receives only 8s. and not 12s. 6d.?

Sir A. Sinclair

The facts are that the responsibilities, and the technical qualifications, and the length of training required for the different categories of air crews, vary materially, and we have made every effort to make the rates of pay as fair as possible between these categories.