§ 6. and 7. Mr. Turnerasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) how many established civil servants are employed at the Special Signals Unit, Royal Air Force, Kidbrooke; and how many applications for transfer have been received in the last twelve months;
§ (2) how many applications for transfer by established civil servants at the Special Signals Unit, Royal Air Force, Kidbrooke, were granted during the last twelve months; and how many left of their own accord forfeiting their establishment rights during the same period.
§ Mr. W. J. TaylorThe Special Signals Unit at Kidbrooke employs 123 established civilians. In the last year there have been 11 applications for transfer. Two have been granted. There have been no resignations with forfeiture of establishment rights.
§ Mr. TurnerIs my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction amongst certain civil servants in this establishment—about one of whom I have written to him—because of the total amount of money that they can earn per week? Is he aware that if the constituent concerned were to transfer to the Post Office as an ordinary postman, at his present age he could earn substantially more, with overtime, than he does in this unit?
§ Mr. TaylorWe always do our best to meet our employees' wishes, but we must have regard to Royal Air Force needs. Established terms give an employee considerable benefits, and it is surely reasonable that in return he should accept that his continued employment on those terms should be subject to some consideration of the public interest. We are very short of instrument makers at Kidbrooke. They are paid the same rates as other comparable craftsmen in Government service, and we cannot treat Kidbrooke in isolation.