§ Mr. N. Bowerasked the Secretary of State for Air what steps have been taken in his Department during the past 10 1417W months to ensure that merit and not seniority is the governing factor in promotions and appointments; and whether he can supply a list of officers and civil servants in key positions of importance in the Air Ministry who are under the age of 45?
§ Sir A. SinclairIt has always been the practice in the Air Ministry to base promotions or appointments on the fitness of the individual for the post. As regards the second part of the Question, the numbers of civil servants in the higher administrative, executive, professional and technical grades, and of R.A.F. officers of the rank of group captain and above employed in the Air Ministry who are under the age of 45, are as follow:
Administrative staff 30, out of a total of 124.
Technical staff 26, out of a total of 57.
R.A.F. officers 46, out of a total of 133.