§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Secretary of State for Air whether many men selected as suitable for training as air-crew are employed for months on general duties; and whether sufficient facilities exist to enable their education to be taken In hand at once?
§ Sir A. SinclairMen selected for air-crew duties have the choice of either being placed on deferred service and remaining in their civil occupation until their turn for training comes or, if they so desire, of being accepted for immediate service on ground defence duties during the waiting period. The period of deferred service or of employment on ground defence duties is the same in either case and varies according to the number of recruits awaiting training in each category of air-crew. For those who choose immediate service on ground defence duties, educational facilities are already provided at Royal Air Force stations and arrangements are in hand for additional instruction to assist them in their air-crew training.