§ 41. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give an estimate of the number of civilians employed by his Department in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, who will lose their employment as a result of recent changes in defence policy.
Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing:The run-down of the civilian labour force to the level required by recent changes in defence policy will be gradual, and I regret that it is not possible at this stage to indicate how far it will involve the discharge of men now in our employment. The need to discharge men will be offset by the effects of normal wastage and transfer to other work, including work at present performed by Service personnel. As I said in replying to the debate on the Air Estimates, we shall give the maximum notice to civilian employees whenever it becomes necessary to close a station or depot.