§ 120. Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that in a 213W recent circular letter to units in Maintenance Command it is proposed to leave to the discretion of commanding officers the decision as to whether personnel may take part in education and vocational training schemes; and if he will take steps to provide for a definite number of hours to be devoted to E.V.T. each week in all Commands of the R.A.F.
§ Mr. de FreitasIt is not our intention that station commanders should have overriding discretionary powers in this matter. The Maintenance Command instructions provide for a minimum of five hours a week during working time for those forms of E.V.T. which have a direct bearing on careers in civil life. I think that arrangements of this kind, which apply generally throughout the Service, are fair and reasonable. If my hon. Friend knows of a case where the instructions seem to have been misunderstood, I shall be glad to look into it. As my predecessor told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Haire) on 17th April, E.V.T. will not continue beyond the end of the year. We shall then absorb E.V.T. into the permanent educational scheme for the postwar Royal Air Force.