§ Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for Air what was the approximate highest number of men clerks and other non-combatant ranks employed by his Department solely at home service stations prior to October, 1920; what was the highest number of women employed on similar uniform duties, and what proportion of these, respectively, were still employed in a civilian capacity at the end of 1922 and 1923; whether any gratuities were granted to the men and women concerned on demobilisation from their respective forces; and, if so, the amount in either case?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe highest number of Royal Air Force personnel employed before October, 1920, on the kind of duties to which, although they are not classed in the Royal Air Force as non-combatant, I think that the hon. Member is referring, was 54,200, and the corresponding figure for women was 14,700. The numbers of civilian subordinates employed on 31st March, 1923, were; men, 1,300; women, 195; but it does not follow that these individuals were included in the former figures. As regards gratuities, every airman who served during the War, which ended for this purpose on 3rd August, 1919, and had completed six months' service, received on demobilisation a war gratuity of an amount dependent on the length of his service and his rank, and varying from £5 to 509W nearly 240: and every airman serving on an ordinary engagement (other than "duration of war") received, in addition, a service gratuity of £1 for each year of service up to a maximum of £12. Airmen serving on "duration of war" engagements were also given 28 days' pay and allowances on demobilisation. The 510W demobilisation benefits of the Women's Royal Air Force were two months' pay for officers, 28 days' pay and allowances for mobile and seven days' pay and allowances for immobile members of that Force, provided that such officers or members had enrolled before 11th November, 1918.