HC Deb 31 March 1947 vol 435 cc269-70W
Lady Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the prospects of wives of R.A.F. personnel joining their husbands serving on stations abroad.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

An officer or airman serving overseas in the R.A.F. is eligible for a passage at public expense for his family if he has at least 12 months to serve on an overseas tour of not less than two years. There is, however, a severe shortage both of public married quarters and private houses, and most overseas commands have waiting lists on which applicants take their place according to length of separation, the size of the family and so on. As I said in the House on 17th March, I realise that the shortage of married quarters is a serious hardship, and we are doing our best to overcome it. But I am afraid that for some time to come many families who wish to go out to R.A.F. Stations abroad will be disappointed.