§ Mr. Mallalieuasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that numbers of time-expired R.A.F. men in the Middle East Command are being held back in the command for two months before being posted to this country; and whether the return of these men can be hastened.
§ Mr. StracheyI know there have been such cases. Reliefs have not always been 623W immediately available in certain trades for airmen whose tour of duty in the Middle East has expired. Intensive re-training of airmen for these trades is in active progress, and we hope to have made up the deficiencies which are the cause of the trouble during the next few months.