§ Major Asterley Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements he has made to enlist, train or re-muster additional tradesmen in those R.A.F. trades where releases are held up; and how soon he will be able to bring such trades into line with the main body of releases.
§ Mr. StracheyWe are doing all we can to improve the position in trades where release is at present behindhand by retraining airmen, and also some airwomen, by training new recruits, by encouraging airmen who can be spared to remuster, and by employing other airmen, so far as possible, on routine duties in the more hard-pressed trades. As stated in my reply of 27th November to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), a completely even release between the various trades and ranks is not yet possible. We cannot say at present when this will be achieved and there is nothing, so far, that 1 can add. to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 21st November.
§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that the release of airmen in a wide range of trades with up to live years' overseas service is being held back behind their group date, he will take steps to ensure that such men will be brought back to home establishment, their places being taken by men who have not been out of this country.
§ Mr. StracheyI am afraid that it would not be fair to other airmen to make special arrangements for bringing home airmen serving overseas in those trades where release has been deferred. To do so would only make it more difficult to even out the 1483W release rate for the service as a whole. This does not mean that these airmen have to exceed the maximum overseas tour which, for married men, is three years; for unmarried men we are reducing the tour from four years to three years and six months. Over 90 per cent. of all airmen due for release are in trades the release rate of which has not been retarded.
§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether he is aware that at No. 16 Maintenance Unit of the R.A.F. in Stafford, men mustered to the trade of clerk/accounting are deferred from demobilisation with their group as a priority trade but are detailed for cook-house duties which include fire pickets and floor scrubbing; and if he will endeavour to bring the release of men in the trade of clerk/accounting in line with the rest of their groups in view of such misemployment.
§ Mr. StracheyClerks/accounting, like all other airmen, at 16 M.U. are required to work one day in each three months in the Cookhouse and to do one night's fire picket duty every two weeks. Their release is certainly not appreciably delayed in consequence of these duties.
§ Captain Crowderasked the Undersecretary of State for Air if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction among officers of the meteorological branch of the R.A.F.V.R. at the fact that their demobilisation is being delayed through the release of civilian members of the service, now serving as officers, who were put into uniform in April, 1943, and are allowed to count their previous civilian service for demobilisation purposes; that there are some officers in this branch in release Group 19 who have served throughout the war and who have not yet been demobilised; and if he will take steps to improve the rate of release in this branch.
§ Mr. StracheyI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 21st November to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) of which I am sending him a copy. The release of Group 22 has already been promulgated, and we are making every effort to improve the rate of release of this branch, subject only to the needs of the Royal Air Force, particularly the demands of the air trooping programme.
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§ Mr. Leslieasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the early release of men engaged on simple clerical duties to enable them to return to their former employment in approved society offices, where work has accumulated owing to the war and shortage of staff.
§ Mr. StracheyWe are releasing clerks in Class A as fast as the needs of the Royal Air Force, and particularly the demands of the release process itself, will allow. No applications under the approved procedure for release in Class B have been received in respect of staff of approved societies. Eligibility for release in Class B is, of course, primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Price-Whiteasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that 35 men of R.A.F. Release Groups Nos. 22 to 25 were, on 10th November last, held up at No. 173 Staging Post, R.A.F., C.M.F., awaiting arrival of release books ordered from 114 M.U. on 27th September and if he will ensure that such delay in delivery of release books by those concerned will not continue to delay repatriation for release in the United Kingdom; and if these 35 men have now arrived in this country.
§ Mr. StracheyI regret that there has been some delay in the repatriation of men due for release owing to No. 173 Staging Post at Vienna not receiving release books from 114 M.U. at Naples. We sent a consignment of release books by air to 114 M.U. on the 5th November, and we have taken steps to ensure that there is no delay in the delivery of release books in future. Without knowing the names of the 35 men, I cannot give an immediate assurance that they have all arrived in this country. I am, however, confirming that no men are now held up by the absence of release books, and I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member when I have heard from the Command.
§ Mr. Leslieasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that men in trade sections of the R.A.F. are doing what they consider to be unnecessary odd jobs while, if released, clerical workers formerly employed with firms in the building trades, would be engaged on work of national importance; and what 1485W steps he is taking to secure that all unnecessary work in the R.A.F. is abolished.
§ Mr. StracheyLocal deficiencies in various trades arise from the contraction and release programmes of the R.A.F. and these deficiencies have to be met by the temporary use of airmen who can be spared from other trades. We have received no applications from the Ministry of Labour and National Service, under the approved procedure for release in Class B, in respect of clerical workers formerly employed with firms in the building trades. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stroud (Flight-Lieutenant Parkin) on 14th November.