§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for Air whether under the new Regulations for the promotion from flying officer to flight-lieutenant a man, aged 22, with five years' service, mostly at the Front, is to wait another two years for his promotion, while a man of three years' service, of which only one year would be at the Front, can be and is promoted flight-lieutenant merely because he is 25; and whether he is aware that this rule is creating serious discontent amongst the younger and most gallant members of the Force?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt was found esential, for the sake of uniformity of practice in the Air Force, to give Air Officers Commanding some guidance in making periodical recommendations for promotion. This was done by means of personal letters to those officers, of which my hon. Friend appears to have heard. He has, however, misconstrued the particular direction to which he refers. I should deprecate detailed discussion of the matter, but I might explain that no one will be promoted to flight-lieutenant merely because he is 25 years of age. That age was given as a normal minimum for promotion to the rank, but permission was also given to recommend younger officers whose exceptional service warrants this course. All promotion is by1460W selection, and war-service records are fully considered. There is, therefore, no occasion to fear the anomalies which my hon. Friend imagines.