§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Air the minimum experience which his Department and the Amalgamated Engineering Union established in 1939 as entitling an Air Ministry skilled employee to recognition as a skilled craftsman.
§ Mr. BirchThe Air Ministry regarded a fully skilled engineering craftsman as one who had served an engineering apprenticeship or had equivalent engineering experience. I cannot answer for the Amalgamated Engineering Union.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that certain employees of his Department, who entered Air Ministry service with no industrial background other than a Government vocational training course in 1938, are recognised as skilled craftsmen, while others, who entered in the same circumstances a few months later, are permanently debarred by his Department's interpretation of the Relaxation of Customs Agreement from skilled status; and what steps he proposes taking to correct this injustice.
§ Mr. BirchThe Answer to the first part of the Question is No." The second part does not therefore arise.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Air what proposals were made by his Department in 1952 for the modification of the Temporary Relaxation of Existing Customs Agreement, 1939, to the Amalgamated Engineering Union: and the reply of that organisation.
§ Mr. BirchThe outcome of the negotiations opened with the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1951 was announced in a Written Reply on 2nd 203W June, 1954, by the then Under-Secretary of State for Air. I am sending a copy to my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Air what administrative machinery exists for the purpose of interpreting the spirit and intentions of the contracting parties in his Department's Temporary Relaxation of Existing Customs Agreement, 1939, with the Amalgamated Engineering Union; and if he will compensate his Department's employees whose conditions of service and prospects of promotion are prejudiced by his interpretations of the Agreement.
§ Mr. BirchThe machinery is that referred to in paragraph 5 (a) of the Relaxation of Customs Agreement. The Answer to the second part of the Question is "No".
§ Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) how many dilutee metal working craftsmen became employed on skilled work in his Department during July, 1939;
(2) how many dilutee metal working craftsmen became employed on skilled work in his Department during each of the first two quarters of 1939.