HC Deb 16 October 1946 vol 427 cc211-2W
118. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Air why there will be no releases for electricians in October; and why they are falling further behind the general release rates, in view of the fact that special efforts to enable them to catch up were announced last May.

121. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will indicate when electricians will catch up in release with other trades.

Mr. de Freitas

We are still training as many electricians as we can, and as quickly as possible, but there are some serious shortages to be overcome before we can improve their release rate. Our present training courses for Electricians II (the less highly skilled category) are full and we have told this trade that by the end of the year their release will be three groups behind the general level for ground trades, compared with five groups at present.

The prospects are, however, not so good for the more skilled trade of Electrician I, because we are unable to get all the men we need for training. They are five groups behind the general level this month, and, even allowing for a greater deficiency than at present, I am afraid the delay will be six groups by the end of the year. As a special measure we are transferring suitable men from the training courses for Electricians II to be trained as Electricians I, but this will not provide any immediate relief, because the more skilled course takes another four months to complete.

119. Mr. Collins

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that promulgations for release of wireless mechanics are now from 6 to 8 groups behind other trades; and if he will state the date by which it is expected they will be brought into line with other groups for demobilisation.

Mr. de Freitas

This month the release of wireless mechanics is two groups behind the general level for ground trades; I am afraid we have had to tell the Service that this will increase to three groups by the end of the year. Our training courses are full, but they take 10 months to complete, so I cannot hold out any immediate hope of an improvement in release.

Major N. Macpherson

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to accelerate the rate of release of wireless mechanics and electricians in order to bring them in line with other categories which are, respectively, eight to 11 age and service groups ahead in rate of release.

Mr. de Freitas

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which I have given today to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton (Mr. Collins), and South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan).