§ 7 and 8. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if his attention has been called to the discontent prevalent among officers in the filter section of the R.A.F., whose release has been deferred, who only discharge nominal or casual duties with two or sometimes four half-holidays weekly; and if the release of these officers can foe expedited so that they may return to civil employment;
2093 (2) to what extent there is now a surplus of filter officers in the R.A.F.; and how many officers returning from overseas, for whom no vacancy can be found, have been posted supernumerary to establishment with loss of rank.
§ Mr. StracheyThere has naturally been a large reduction in the establishment of these officers since VE-Day, but those that remain still have an essential part to play in our air defence system, and our fighter squadrons could not function properly without them. On 31st December they will actually be some 20 per cent. below requirements. They are only two groups behind the average. Twenty-seven filter officers have returned to the United Kingdom from overseas since 18th May and of these, seven have lost their acting rank on posting to other duties.
§ Sir P. HannonIs it a fact that a large number of these men are standing idle? In view of the fact that they can take a prominent part in reconstruction work and in the conversion from war to peace conditions, can the Minister not accelerate their release as much as possible?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir, I cannot agree that they are standing idle. Fighter squadrons that are kept up for the fighter defence of this country must have their complement of filter officers.