Education Officers

Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Air Force – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 January 1945.

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Photo of Mr Edward Williams Mr Edward Williams , Ogmore 12:00, 31 January 1945

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of resignations received from educational officers in the R.A.F. in the last three months.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

Sixty-two of the 1,128 education officers employed in the R.A.F. Educational Service have, within the last three months, given notice to terminate their appointments.

Photo of Mr Edward Williams Mr Edward Williams , Ogmore

Could the right hon. Gentleman give any explanation of the cause of these resignations?

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I think it is because quite a number of people, now the war is beginning to come to an end, are thinking of leaving their war-time service. While this has been happening, while we have had these resignations on the one hand, we have had during the same period a number of applications for appointments as education officers, of which 34 have been accepted and others are now under consideration.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Lindsay Mr Kenneth Lindsay , Kilmarnock

Has the Minister any idea what has become of these 62 officers?

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

A number of them are still in the Service. I was asked what resignations had been proffered.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Lindsay Mr Kenneth Lindsay , Kilmarnock

I understand that these men are redirected by the Ministry of Labour. They are badly needed in the education services.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

That is a matter between me and the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Education.

Photo of Mr Edward Williams Mr Edward Williams , Ogmore

Surely the Minister must know that it is grave dissatisfaction in the Service that must have caused these excessive resignations.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I do not believe there is any true ground for any dissatisfaction which may exist, but I am glad to say that this matter is to be discussed in the House on Friday, when I shall be glad to meet my hon. Friend on the whole subject.

Captain Duncan:

Surely the Minister cannot absolve himself from responsibility in not knowing where these men have gone. He must know before he releases them.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I do not know what the hon. and gallant Member means by absolving myself of responsibility for where they have gone. I certainly cannot tell the House at a moment's notice where 62 men, who have proffered their resignations, are now.

Photo of Mr Edward Williams Mr Edward Williams , Ogmore

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he has refused to publish the report of the Committee on the Conditions of Air Force Education Officers.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

The Committee included a Royal Air Force Officer on the active list and an Air Ministry civil servant, together with two officers of local authorities. The proceedings were private; and the report was made in confidence. It is not the practice—and would impair the relationship of mutual trust which must subsist between Ministers and their advisers—to publish confidential reports of this kind.

Photo of Mr Kenneth Lindsay Mr Kenneth Lindsay , Kilmarnock

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us the gist of the report before we have the Debate on Friday, otherwise it will be difficult to have a discussion?

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I do not see why it should be difficult to have a discussion. On this matter I have to consider a number of very important issues affecting the whole future of the educational service in the R.A.F. I asked a serving R.A.F. officer and a civil servant to help me, and to join with two distinguished educationists from outside. It is a question of providing me with advice which I asked for, and is purely a domestic matter inside the Air Ministry.

Viscountess Astor:

Is it not true that this Committee was set up because there was such grave dissatisfaction among education officers in the Service?

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

No, Sir, and I am glad to make it clear that this Committee was set up because of the immense importance to the future of the Royal Air Force of getting the best possible educational service. We wanted the best advice we could get.

Photo of Mr Herbert Williams Mr Herbert Williams , Croydon South

Is it not also a question of trust between M.Ps. and the Minister?

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I do not know what the hon. Member means by that question. I do not think any such question arises.

Photo of Mr Herbert Williams Mr Herbert Williams , Croydon South

Surely, without getting unduly excited, the Minister must realise that he said that the question was one of trust between him and people in his Department whereas, in fact, it is merely the other side of the picture.

Photo of Sir Archibald Sinclair Sir Archibald Sinclair , Caithness and Sutherland

I think Ministers have a perfect right to ask officers serving in their Departments to give their advice frankly on different questions, and that officers would be reluctant to do that, if they knew that that advice was afterwards to be published.