§ 60. Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the working party set up jointly by his Department and the Amalgamated Engineering Union to consider the relaxation agreement of October, 1939, has made any report to him concerning the future status and employment of dilutee workers; and whether he has any statement to make upon this matter.
§ 67. Mr. Hollisasked the Secretary of State for Air how many meetings have been held by the working party promised by him to investigate the problem of redundancy among aeronautical engineers; who are the persons constituting the working party; and what progress it has reported.
§ Mr. CrawleyThe working party which my right hon. and learned Friend appointed with the agreement of the Amalgamated Engineering Union to discuss difficulties arising under the Agreement of 1939 has held one meeting, and hopes to meet again in the near future. The committee comprises three representatives nominated by the Air Ministry and three representatives nominated by the Amalgamated Engineering Union, meeting under my chairmanship. The working party has not yet submitted any report, and I am not in a position to report any progress.
§ 69. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Air why semi-skilled workers are not being accepted for training at No. 5 Maintenance Unit, Kemble, with a view to up-grading, unless the consent of a certain trade union has been given to their registration as supplementary workers; whether he is aware that that consent is withheld unless they are or become members of that union; and what steps he will take to ensure that in future there is no such discrimination.
§ Mr. CrawleyMy right hon. and learned Friend is aware that certain difficulties have arisen in regard to dilutee labour at Kemble, and if these difficulties cannot be overcome they will be discussed on the joint working party which he has appointed in agreement with the craft union concerned.
§ 70. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give 201W an assurance that semi-skilled workers who pass out of the Air Ministry School of Instruction, Kemble, will be classed as dilutees under the Relaxation of Customs Agreement, 1939, and treated not more favourably than men of similar training who were registered as dilutees during the war.
§ Mr. CrawleySemi-skilled workers employed at Kemble who are accepted by the Joint Relaxation Committee as suitable for training for skilled work are registered as dilutees under the Relaxation of Customs Agreement, 1939, and then given initial training at that Unit. If they are satisfactory, they are then sent to the Air Ministry School of Instruction at Aston Down for further training. On passing out, these men are treated in exactly the same way as men registered as dilutees during the war period.