25. Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Air which Government Departments asked for the services of the 62 R.A.F. education officers whom he has recently permitted to resign; whether their resignations were permitted after a recommendation of the appropriate man-power board in each case; and whether these officers are doing what they were permitted to resign to do in the national interest.
§ Sir A. SinclairThe release procedure applicable to the Armed Forces does not apply to these education officers who are civilians and have given notice of resignation in accordance with the terms of their contracts. Accordingly, it was unnecessary for their release to be asked for by other Government Departments or recommended by man-power boards. In fact, however, some of the resignations were supported by the Ministry of Education and others by local education authorities. I cannot answer for the employment of these officers if and when they leave the R.A.F. Educational Service, but, like other civilians, they are subject to the National Service arrangements administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.