§ 3. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will ensure that all Service men who are afforded indulgence passages home on Royal Air Force aircraft are guaranteed a return flight to base without charge.
§ Mr. H. FraserNo, Sir. Service men returning to duty overseas are given priority when there is spare capacity in a Royal Air Force aircraft. But an indulgence passage is a privilege which can only be granted when such spare capacity is available.
§ Mr. MasonCan the right hon. Gentleman say, first, whether records are kept of these indulgence flights and how often Service men take advantage of them? Secondly, although Service men are informed that if there are no vacancies on returning Service aircraft they will have to pay their own return fares back to base, they treat this rather lightheartedly, and when they are due to return to Middle East or Far East stations and are informed that there are no vacancies on Service aircraft and therefore they have to pay between £50 and £100 to get back, this causes distress to them and often to their families? Even if it means that there will be a curtailment of some of these indulgence passages, is it not worth considering the suggestion made in my Question?
§ Mr. FraserNo, Sir. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have looked at this very carefully. When there is a free seat available in an aircraft it is much better that someone should have the benefit of using it, and it is made clear that if there is no chance of getting back free the man will have to pay his fare. This is quite separate from the normal overseas leave when the man gets back on a free passage.