§ Wing-Commander Robinsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air on what date the reduction in the tour of duty in the Aden Command was first announced; why effect has not yet been given to the decision; and when it is expected that this decision will become operative.
§ Mr. StracheyWe announced on 8th November, 1945, that airmen would not have to serve for more than 12 months in certain areas, including Aden, in the Mediterranean and Middle East Command, and that all airmen who had served a year in those areas should have a total overseas tour of not more than three years. We have, also, since 1st December, been putting into effect the decision to reduce the overseas tour for single men in the R.A.F. to a maximum of three years and six months. It has been explained to all the airmen at Aden that this reduction is being carried out254W first, and they have shown a very reasonable understanding of the difficulties that would be involved in any other arrangement. The Commander-in-Chief hopes to start transferring airmen who have spent more than a year at Aden at the beginning of March, but he is not yet able to say when they will all have left.