§ 15. Mr. Ernest G. Perryasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Air Force strength is engaged as aircrew as against ground crew; how many in each category have served on the Air Force Board; and what action is being taken to ensure that promotion to the highest levels of command and authority is available to all branches of the Service.
§ Mr. WellbelovedOfficers and airmen aircrew form about 10 per cent. of the total trained strength of the RAF; for officers only it is about 46 per cent. One officer of a ground branch has been a member of the Air Force Board. Officers in all the main branches may be considered for promotion to level posts but the duties of certain posts are such that they are held by officers of particular branches. These posts include those of Chief of the Air Staff and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, who are members of the Air Force Board and the C-in-Cs of the three RAF Commands all of which are required to be officers of the General Duties Branch.