§ Sir G. Foxasked 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, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th Oct., 1945, Vol. 414, c. 233] supplied the following statement:
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R.A.F.—Officer branches and Airman trades in which rates of release differ in the latest release promulgation, i.e. for November and December. Officer Branch. Age and Service Group. Airman Trade. Age and Service Group. Technical Engineer 18 Fitters I, IIA, IIE Flight Mech. A. 24 A. & S.D. Special duties Engineer. Flight Mech. E., Carpenter Rigger Metal Rigger, Rigger Aero, Carpenter I Instrument Maker, Instrument Repairer Technical Signals 13 Wireless Mech., Wireless Electrical Mech., Wireless Operator Mech. 23 A. & S.D. Special duties Signals Radar Wireless Op., Radio Telephony Op. and sub-trades. 25 Technical Signals Radar 19 Radar Operators 25 A. & S.D. Special duties Signals Radar Radar Mechanics 23 Physical Fitness 22 Physical Training Instructor 23 Provost and Security 20 R.A.F. Police 23 Mechanical Transport 17 Drivers M.T., Fitters M.T., M.T. Mech. 23 Motor Cyclists Photography 19 Photographers 24 Equipment 18 Equipment Assistants 21 Clerk Provisioning 22 Medical, Medical Quartermasters 20 All Medical trades 22 Dental 21 Dental trades 22 R.A.F. Regiment 21 Gunner, P.A.C., Operator 24 Meteorological 20 Meteorologist 24 A. & S.D. Admin. 23 Clerks G.D. of various categories 22 Marine Craft 24 Motor Boat Crew 25 Code and Cypher 24 Clerk (Code and Cypher) 23