§ 20. Wing Commander Bullusasked the Secretary of State for Air the establishment for Royal Air Force chaplains, full time and part-time; and what are the totals at present so employed.
§ Mr. BirchThe establishment of full-time chaplains in the Royal Air Force is 279. The present strength is 268. There are at the moment 650 part-time chaplains for whom there is no fixed establishment.
§ Wing Commander BullusCan my right hon. Friend say what proportion of these appointments is with companies of National Service men, and can he further say whether chaplains' pay was considered in the recent Services pay review?
§ Mr. BirchThe establishment of chaplains is worked out as a proportion of Regulars and National Service men together. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, both categories have immortal souls. The question of chaplains' pay does come up in the review of Services pay.