§ 84. Sir H. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Air which part of the Relaxation of Customs Agreement prohibits the Air Ministry from promoting dilutee employees to the position of chargehand, or insists upon the demotion of such dilutees where promotion has already been granted, as in the case of Mr. Cyril Edwards, No. 8, Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Little Rissington.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe Relaxation of Customs Agreement of 1939 between the Air Ministry and the Amalgamated Engineering Union does not prohibit the promotion of dilutees. But in conformity with the Agreement, it is Air Ministry policy in filling vacancies for chargehand craftsmen not to select dilutees if suitable fully skilled craftsmen are available. I have already explained in my reply on 2nd May to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) why it was necessary to downgrade Mr. Edwards.