HC Deb 10 October 1945 vol 414 cc232-4W
Mr. Channon

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the delay in releasing clerks S.D. from the R.A.F., which lags considerably behind others; and, in view of the grievance which exists on this account, whether steps can now be taken to expedite the release of these clerks and to give them the same treatment as others in their groups.

Mr. Strachey

I said in my reply to the hon. Members for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 22nd August last that it was not possible to have a perfectly even rate of release as between all trades in the Royal Air Force. Nevertheless every endeavour is being made by intensive training and re-training to reduce unevenness. Delays in the release of clerks S.D. have already been reduced, and their release is now only two groups behind that of most other trades.

Sir C. Edwards

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the unrest in the Forces overseas over demobilisation; why the official broadcast announcement that men over 30 years of age and all under group 26 would not be sent to the Far East was not carried out; whether he is aware that orders posted for the 298th Squadron, Equipment Section, R.A.F., S.E.A.A.F., stated that certain trades were held up and on 15th September a list of these trades for which there was no release, including that of equipment assistant, was posted up; and if he will make inquiries into these complaints with a view to ending them.

Mr. Strachey

I believe that the age and service release scheme has, in principle, been accepted as fair by the Service. But, no doubt there are natural anxieties amongst men overseas as to how the scheme will work out for them. But I can assure my right hon. Friend that the age and service principle of release will be adhered to, and that consequently the release of men overseas will be kept in step with that of men at home. Men in early release groups are not normally posted to distant Commands, and we shall certainly keep to this policy. But I know of no official broadcast or announcement such as that to which the second part of the Question refers. I am inquiring into the matter raised in the third part of the Question and will communicate with my right hon. Friend. Meanwhile, I can assure him there are no trades in which there is no release.

Sir G. Fox

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will give a list of the trades in the R.A.F. in which the rate of demobilisation has been retarded and arranged differently as between officers and other ranks; and whether he is satisfied that these decisions are in conformity with the undertaking given by the late Government that no decisions of this kind will be taken except at Cabinet level.

Mr. Strachey

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate a list containing full particulars in the Official Report. As to the second part of the Question, the White Paper on the Re-allocation of Manpower stated clearly that it would be necessary in some Services to deal separately with the several branches, and possibly with trades and ranks in those branches, and I know of no undertaking such as that to which the hon. Member refers.

Sir J. Mellor

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many applications for Class C release, approved by group-commanders, have reached his Department since 8th May; how many have been granted; and what is the procedure in his Department for coming to a decision.

Mr. Strachey

Since 8th May, 1945, 5,930 applications for Class C release, approved by Group Commanders have been received in my Department. 1,054 of these have been granted and 1,232 are still under consideration. We have, moreover, recently been able to relax the rules for compassionate release to keep a small business going, and Commands have been informed that applications of this kind that were previously not granted may be renewed. None the less, Class C releases must remain exceptional. Individual applications are all carefully considered, and they are granted where real distress arising from domestic or business affairs can be avoided or lightened only by indefinite release.