§ Mr. F. Andersonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what percentage of officers in the meteorological branch of the R.A.F. have been released since May, 1945; what proportion of this percentage have actually been lost to the Meteorological Office; and how many new forecasters have been trained in the same 352W period and how many are being trained now.
§ Mr. Strachey:Fifty-three per cent. of the Royal Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers serving in the Met. Branch have been released during the period 1st June, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. Eighty per cent. of these demobilised officers are not now available to the Met. Office. During this period 77 new forecasters have been trained and a further 103 who had begun their training before last June have also been qualified. Sixty-seven forecasters are at present under training.