HC Deb 20 April 1955 vol 540 cc183-4
33. Lieut-Colonel Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the civilian technical staff employed in Anti-Aircraft Command have been retained; and by which Service Department they will be employed.

The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Fitzroy Maclean)

All have been retained so far but about two-thirds will become redundant during the next nine months. As I explained yesterday in answer to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden), as many as possible of these will be transferred to other War Department establishments or to suitable vacancies offered by other Government Departments. It is, however, too early to say how many of the temporary staff will be retained in Government employment and how many discharged.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister aware that there is a considerable risk of losing the services of many of these highly skilled technicians who know all about radar and electronics, and that if the Government lose their services to industry we shall never be able to get them back if and when an emergency arises? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I wrote to the Secretary of State about this five weeks ago and I have not yet had an answer?

Mr. Maclean

My right hon. Friend is naturally perfectly well aware of the need for retaining the services of men whose services are needed. On the question of the hon. and gallant Member's letter, this is a complicated subject which requires the concurrence of several Government Departments, and I am not in a position to make a statement about it now.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to do his best to see that I get an answer before 26th May?