HC Deb 21 March 1945 vol 409 cc793-4
27. Mr. Ralph Etherton

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction of R.A.F. personnel who were encouraged to volunteer to be released to industry on the undertaking that the period of their release would count towards their current engagement and now find that they are not to have the same rights in regard to release as if they had actually served, as many of them would have preferred, in the R.A.F.; and why reliance is to be placed on the interpretation of current engagement as contrasted with service which counts for release.

Sir A. Sinclair

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. It is made clear in the White Paper on the Re-allocation of Manpower that the service which determines priority of release is wholetime service, counting for Service pay, in the Armed Forces since 3rd September, 1939. To extend this definition to cover periods of release to civil life would be unfair not only to men who had served throughout under the restraints of Service life, many of them overseas, but also to those who were required to remain in civil employment for some time before being allowed to join the Forces.

Mr. Etherton

In view of the fact that the men who are serving with the Ministry of Aircraft Production were and still are R.A.F. bodies, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that his answer is a breach of faith of the undertaking given to these men when they were induced to volunteer?

Sir A. Sinclair

Most certainly not. The undertaking was that it should count towards their engagement. In the case of men engaged for the war it would mean that, when the war is over, they will not be expected to serve, however convenient it might be for the Service, a further six months if that was the time they had spent in their civil employment, in addition to their war service. In the case of other men on normal regular engagements, this period will count towards the period of engagement.

Mr. Etherton

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.