§ Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the rate of pay of a man at present drawing Army rates of pay as an architectural draughtsman, A1, while undergoing training as an air observer?
§ Sir A. SinclairAn Army architectural draughtsman would not normally be allowed to volunteer for training as an air observer as tradesmen of the three highest trade groups in the Army cannot be spared for transfer to the R.A.F. The regulations providing for the transfer of soldiers to the R.A.F. for training as air observers provide that they shall be given rank in the R.A.F. corresponding to their Army substantive or war substantive rank and receive, during initial ground training, pay appropriate to that rank in the RA.F., Group V.
The relative ranks and daily rates of pay are as follow:
970W
Army. R.A.F. Group V Pay. s. d. Private A.C.2. 2 6 after 1 year — 3 3 after 2 years — 3 6 Corporal Corporal 5 0 after 4 years as such — 5 6 Sergeant Sergeant 6 6 after 4 years as such — 7 0 On proceeding for training to an air observer navigation school an A.C.2would be reclassified L.A.C. and placed in Group II with pay at 5s. 6d. a day. A corporal or a sergeant would retain his existing rate of pay subject to a minimum of 5s. 6d. a day. Flying instructional pay at 1s. 6d. a day would be payable in addition.