Lieut.-Colonel R. PEELasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that 176 civilian employés at the air station, Felixstowe, received a week's notice to leave on Saturday last without having had any previous intimation that their services were likely to be dispensed with; and whether, in view of the obvious hardship which must occur from displacement at such short notice, he will take steps to make some concession as to time so as to give the employés some reasonable chance of finding fresh employment?
§ Major-General SEELYThe facts are as stated in the question. I deeply regret the hardship that is caused by the dismissal of civilian employés in this and similar cases, but the rapid reduction of the Royal Air Force to a peace basis renders such action unavoidable. Every effort will be made to give sufficient notice to enable men to find other employment, but such notice must in any case be short owing to the great reduction in working requiring to be done.