§ 86. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that, by the transfer of the families from the married quarters at Steamer Point to Aden, the wives in this country of airmen who have been on the waiting list of the latter place for a considerable period have been prevented from joining their husbands; that this delay in providing accommodation is 270W creating a feeling of frustration; and if he will take immediate steps to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. A. HendersonMarried quarters in Aden are now allocated from a central waiting list instead of from lists previously maintained separately for Steamer Point and Khormaksar. The introduction of this combined list has increased the delay in providing quarters for the families of airmen serving at Khormaksar, but it has reduced the waiting period for the families of other airmen and it ensures that all airmen in Aden come under the points scheme regardless of the fortune of posting.
§ 87. Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the present number of married quarters available at home and overseas to the Royal Air Force; how this compares with the number available at the outbreak of war; and whether the proportion of married quarters to the strength of Regular officers and airmen is higher or lower now than it was at the outbreak of war.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThere are approximately 13,200 married quarters as compared with 7,200 in September, 1939. The number of Regular officers and airmen then and now is about the same. The proportion of married quarters to strength is therefore considerably higher now than it was in September, 1939. The number of married quarters in 1939 was inadequate, because of the rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force.