§ 82. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the highest and lowest release group so far reached by different trades in the R.A.F.
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§ Mr. A. HendersonGroup 64 and group 56.
§ Mr. Lawasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the recent announcements of release groups in the Service shows that by next March some trades will have only reached group 61, compared with group 75 in others; that a discrepancy of 14 groups will mean a difference, allowing for ages, of two years' service; and what steps are proposed to correct this discrepancy.
§ Mr. A. HendersonAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service announced on 14th October, 1947, the acceleration of releases in the first quarter of 1948 means a wider discrepancy between releases in different branches, trades and arms within each Service if operational efficiency is to be maintained. We are making a certain number of extra releases in the trades which are better manned than the average and this will result in a temporary widening of the disparity, which will be 14 groups in certain trades in March. I should make it clear that this has not involved any postponement of releases in any branch or trade, and that there is no change in the plan to release by the end of 1948 all those serving at the end of 1946