§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that a number of civilian employâs are being discharged from the Royal Air Force; that 1,433 civilians at present employed at No. 1 stores depot, Kidbrooke, are to be reduced to 450 by the end of the year; and that the total number of between 6,000 and 7,000 employed by the Royal Air Force is to be reduced to 3,280 by the end of the year; whether he will consider the possibility of carrying out these discharges more gradually, in order to give the men a better chance of finding employment elsewhere; and whether he can state what action is being taken in con- 1149W junction with the Ministry of Labour with a view to the absorption of the discharged men into other employment?
§ Major-General SEELYsubject to the correction of the figure 3,280 to 3,480, the answers to the first three parts of the hon. Gentleman's question are in the affirmative. In order to afford the men discharged better opportunities of obtaining employment, the desirability of spreading the discharges over as long a period as possible has already received very careful consideration. I have received two deputations on the matter and have discussed the situation fully with representatives of the men concerned. As a result the period has been appreciably lengthened. I much regret the hardship caused, but it is impossible to still further delay the discharges, in view of the very large reductions in the Air Force. The closest touch is maintained by the Air Ministry with the Ministry of Labour, and advanced information is given el impending discharges.