HC Deb 16 December 1929 vol 233 c995W
Major POLE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many acres of vacant, land are in the possession of his Department; how many acres are tenanted; and the situation of such land?

Mr. MONTAGUE

The Air Ministry owns in the British Isles approximately 25,000 acres, of which 16,000 are let to farming and grazing tenants, subject to Royal Air Force user. To state the situation of the land, 73 stations being concerned, would be a lengthy matter; my hon. and gallant Friend will perhaps refer to the Air Force List.

The Table below shows the position as on 1st August, 1914, 1st January, 1925 and 1st October, 1929 (these dates being more convenient for statistical purposes:—
I. Total number of messengers employed on 1st August, 1914 … … … 2222
II. Unestablished Messengers, Paper Keepers and Record Keepers employed on 1st January, 1925

— Unestablished Messengers. Unestablished Paper Keepers and Record Keepers.
Headquarter Departments … 2,319 141
Ex-Headquarter Departments … 482 7
Total … 2,801 148

III. Messenger and Paper Keeping Staffs employed on 1st October, 1929:
— Messengers. Paper Keepers and Record Keepers.
Established. Unestablished Established. Unestablished
"P" Class. Others. "P" Class. Others.
Headquarter Departments 395 1,034 1,071 161 159 225
Ex-Headquarter Departments 29 87 326 10 — 7
Total 424 1,121 1,397 171 159 232
NOTE.—The figures exclude the messengerial staffs of War Office and Air Ministry Outstations and boy messengers and girl probationers employed under the Post Office.