§ 40. Mr. Woodnuttasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the quantity of tunics and skirts of old pattern, Women's Royal Air Force uniforms, for disposal; and if he will consider making some of them available for issue to members of the Women's Junior Air Corps, members of which have to purchase their own uniforms.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward)We have no surplus tunics, but there are about 5,000 battle-dress blouses and 4,000 skirts which the Women's Junior Air Corps can buy from us cheaply if it wishes.
§ Mr. WoodnuttI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that, in view of the importance of all the youth movements, of which the Women's Junior Air Corps is one, it would greatly encourage recruitment if he gave them some of these old uniforms which, if he disposes of them in the normal way, will fetch next to nothing anyway?
§ Mr. WardThe Women's Junior Air Corps is an independent organisation. While we gladly help it in a number of ways, we cannot make free gifts of public property in this way. We have, however, decided that surplus uniforms should be offered at a price which I think the Corps will find not too onerous.