§ 45. Mr. Prittasked the Minister of Defence what steps he proposes to take to deal with the discrepancies between the three Services and between trades inside each Service in relation to release which amount, in some cases, to a difference of over 20 groups as between certain trades in the R.N. and other trades in the Army and R.A.F. and involve the release of some men who joined the R.N. after the end of hostilities, whilst airmen of the same age have completed four years' service before release.
§ Mr. AlexanderSome disparity in the rate of release between the three Services is unavoidable. This was made clear when the release scheme was announced. The possibility of reducing the disparity, by transferring men or duties from one Service to another, has been closely examined, but I am satisfied that little or no real improvement could be achieved in that way. The disparity is a diminishing one, and we are regulating the intake, as between the Services, to speed up equality of treatment, but it will take time for the full effect of this process to be felt.