§ Mr. Hurdasked the Under Secretary of State for Air why the trade of dental mechanic in the R.A.F. is closed to new entrants who have civilian experience of this work and have applied for transfer on remustering, while the trade of dental mechanic is held back seven groups in the R.A.F. demobilisation scheme.
§ Mr. StracheyWe originally closed the trade of dental mechanic because we estimated that we could meet our requirements without delaying the release of airmen already serving. But the amount of dental work for members of the Air Force about to be released has upset the estimate. We have now reopened the trade to men with the required civil qualifications. The release of dental mechanics is two, not seven, groups behind that of most airmen.