§ Mr. Granvilleasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that specialised training for forecasters in tropical regions has been non-existent during the war and after; that discontent is caused by the posting from the United Kingdom to tropical regions of independent forecasters, freshly promoted for the purpose of being sent overseas; and whether this situation has been rectified.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI am advised that the best possible training for forecasters who are new to tropical meteorology is for them to work in their regions under the guidance of an experienced officer; and this can almost always be arranged. In addition, many special memoranda on the meteorological problems of different tropical regions have been prepared for the information of forecasters who are going on tropical service: these were issued during the war and are still issued. It is 12 months since any officer in the Meteorological Service was promoted before being sent overseas, and the experience and ability of the officer concerned warranted his promotion.