§ 34. Major Wyattasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many soldiers and airmen have been brought from India to the United Kingdom in aircraft carriers for demobilisation since November, 1945.
§ Mr. AlexanderAircraft carriers employed on trooping duties are normally filled to capacity with Naval men, thus freeing equivalent capacity in troopships for the Army and Royal Air Force. Members of the other Services.are carried only when there- are insufficient Naval personnel to fill them. The answer to my hon. and gallant Friend's Question is 443 since 1st November.
§ Major WyattWould my right hon. Friend make a special effort to try to see that some Servicemen are brought back from India in aircraft carriers, as the fact that they are not was one of the grievances raised by the men during a recent R.A.F. strike?
§ Mr. AlexanderThe best thing I can do for the other Services is to have the most economical use of troopships for the naval men concerned. If they come and go in the Naval ships they can actually be used for working the ships, whereby it is much more economical and I can release more space in the troopships for other Services.
§ Major WyattWould my right hon. Friend make that quite clear?
§ Mr. AlexanderI have done so before, but I hope my answer now will receive wide publicity.
§ Captain MarsdenHas the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that the living conditions in aircraft carriers are good enough to satisfy the Royal Air Force?
§ 36. Miss Colmanasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Group 24 of T. 124 T. personnel has not yet been released; and when the ratio of demobilisation of the Rescue Tug Service can be increased.
§ Mr. AlexanderA further programme of releases for T. 124 T. personnel has just been announced to the Fleet. This provides for the release of Groups varying from Group 21 for Stewards and Greasers to Group 50 for Ordinary Seamen, by the end of March. I hope to be able to announce a further improvement in the near future.