§ Mr. FENBYasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will undertake to examine the circumstances under which notice of down-grading has been issued to Mr. H. Booker, a disabled ex-service overseas officer, who has been employed as mechanical and electrical engineer in the C.M.E.E. Division, Air Ministry, and who is now to be reverted to the grade of assistant mechanical and electrical engineer, with loss of pay and status; whether there are retained in that Department officers of home departmental service only of the grade of mechanical and electrical engineer; whether these officers are more highly qualified than Mr. Booker; if not, will he arrange that wherever down-grading is necessary, consequent upon reorganisation of that Department, it shall be effected from amongst those home departmental officers, 25W especially in view of the Government's policy with regard to preference for ex-service officers, and, further, in view of the fact that Mr. Booker has every claim to retention in his grade, based on qualifications, record of service, and military status; and will he cause the notice of down-grading to be withdrawn in this case?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe notice of downgrading was issued after the appropriate Promotion Board had carefully reviewed the qualifications, experience, ex-service claims and confidential reports of all the temporary mechanical and electrical engineers employed in the directorate. Ex-service qualifications are, of course, given proper weight in such cases, but in the interests of the efficiency of the Department, I regret that I cannot see my way to withdraw the notice given to Mr. Booker.
26W
— 1914. 1929. Active Service Personnel. Reserves. Active Service Personnel. Reserves. Great Britain … … … 146,047 66,697 99,800 71,000 United States of America … … … 67,258 Figures not available. 114,500 33,500 Japan … … … 50,645 do. 85,000 Figures not available. France … … … 69,585 do. 62,000 do. Italy … … … 40,023 do. 46,000 do.