Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Air Force – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 March 1947.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
12:00,
19 March 1947
asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement regarding the release of electricians from the R.A.F.
Mr Philip Noel-Baker
, Derby
In March, April and May of this year, six groups of Electricians I will be released, and four groups of Electricians II. This will bring them to Group 49. The Royal Air Force will still be short of electricians, however, and at the end of May, they will be five groups behind the general level of release. I hope for an improvement later in the year, but I regret that I cannot now predict when the general level will be reached.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
In view of the disappointment these men have suffered, will the Secretary of State try to do all he can to have these men released on the same basis as those in other trades?
Mr Philip Noel-Baker
, Derby
Certainly, I will. Unfortunately, we are also experiencing a very heavy shortage of electricians, up to the danger limit; but I hope that as men come out of training the rate of release will be accelerated.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
