§ 6. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement regarding the reorganisation of the R.A.F. educational service.
§ Mr. de FreitasOn 1st October we set up the new Education Branch of the Royal Air Force. It replaced the civilian R.A.F. Educational Service. This change shows the importance we attach to education in the postwar Air Force. I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the conditions of service in the new branch. To begin with, the permanent officers are being recruited from the permanent staff of the old Educational Service, but the normal method of entry is by short service commission and permanent commissions will be offered to selected officers towards the end of their short service. The Education Branch will now take its place as an integral part of the Royal Air Force in the same way as the General Duties and other branches.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWill the Under-Secretary tell the House whether the education officers will qualify for the same rights as officers in the other Services?
§ Mr. de FreitasThe rates of pay and pensions were announced in the House in July. There are certain technical points in regard to the pensions of officers who are now coming from the Educational Service so that I would not like to give an answer offhand on that.
§ Mr. PrittWill the Minister say that that does not mean that the Secretary of State for Air is in favour of junior education officers receiving less than other junior officers in the Service?
§ Mr. de FreitasI will look into that point. As I have already said, the rates were announced in the House in July.
Major Leǵǵe-BourkeCan the Under-Secretary say whether any of the officers who have been put to this new Educational Service are men who have applied for release in order to resume their jobs 1362 as teachers which they had in civilian life before the war?
§ Mr. de FreitasNo, Sir. Applications are accepted, and are purely voluntary.