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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1042.PDF
486 FLIGHT MAY X4TH, 194* IN PARLIAMENT Extra Pay for Paratroops : Britain's Bombing Policy : Information on Russian Aircraft : Flying Experience for A.T.C. : Aircraft Output and Supply of Alloys Parachutists' Pay Wing-Commander Hulbert asked the Stcretary of State for War whether it is proposed to make a special increase of pay to Commandos and Para troops? Sir ]. Grigg: Parachute troops already get extra pay at the rate of four shillings a day for officers and two shillings a day for other ranks. It is not proposed to increase the pay of Commando troops. Hitler's Word Valueless Mr. Hannah asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider, through the International Red Cross or otherwise, attempting to arrange by tacit agreement, or in other way, mutual forbearance to destroy ancient monuments of no military value? Mr. Attlee: No, Sir. Experience has shown the worthlessness of any agree ment entered into by Hitler, and it is already the fixed policy of His Majesty's Government to avoid unnecessary dam age to such monuments. Mr. Hannah; Is not the present con dition of the world more utterly deplor able than anything that has been known since the fall of the Empire of Rome? Mr. Attlee: My hon. Friend's opinion will be shared by a great number of people. Russian Aircraft and Tanks .SiV W. Davison asked the Minister of Production whether, in view of the large supplies of aeroplanes, tanks and other munitions of war which are being sent to Russia by Great Britain and America, we are receiving particulars of the design and equipment of the aeroplanes and tanks manufactured in Russia which have been so successful against the Ger mans in the recent fighting; and whether these machines are now being manu factured in Great Britain and America? Mr. Lyttelton: I regret it is not in the public interest to disclose the information asked for by my hon. Friend. Sir W. Davison: Will representations be made to the Soviet authorities as to the desirability of all available informa tion as to these aeroplanes, which have been so successful against the Germans, being provided to our industry? Mr. Lyttelton: I may tell my hon. Friend that our test pilots have flown nearly all the Russian types of machines. Air Training Corps Wing-Commander Hulbert asked the Secretary of State for Air whether in creased flying facilities will shortly be available to the Air Training Corps; and what progress is being made for prac tical gliding instruction? Sir A. Sinclair: It is not proposed to depart from the rale that cadets can only be given flying experience where they can be taken up in aircraft that are making flights in the ordinary course of duty (excluding operational flights), ex cept that it has recently been arranged that special flights may be made for this purpose at certain flying training schools equipped with light two-seater aircraft. As regards gliding, preparations are being pressed on with as rapidly as pos sible and particulars will be announced in due course. Wing-Commander Hulbert asked the Secretary of State for Air the procedure for selecting Air Training Corps officers; what qualifications are required; and whether he is satisfied with the results achieved up to date? Sir A. Sinclair: Applicants for com missions in the training branch of the R.A.F.V.R. are interviewed by an Air Ministry Selection Board on the recom mendation of the commanding officer of the unit in which the applicant desires to serve and of the chairman of the local committee or headmaster of the school concerned. Applicants must normally be of British nationality and between the ages of 19 and 55. Commissions are only granted to applicants under 41 years of age if they are medically unfit for general service or have been granted deferment of call-up. The results gener ally have been most satisfactory. I am glad to take this opportunity of acknow ledging our debt to all those who are giving their services to the Air Training Corps, either as officers or civilian in structors. Co-operation in Aircraft Production Mr. Ellis Smith asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he is satisfied that there is a close and effec tive contact between the Ministry, the Air Ministry and the industrial experts; is there a direct contact between those who decide on programmes and repre sentatives of the section ol the industry called upon to carry out the particular programme; do firms receive orders of types of sufficient numbers to plan for a reasonable time, and on which they can carry on until full arrangements are made to produce other types? The Minister of Aircraft Production Colonel Llewellin): The answer to each part of my hon. Friend's question is "Yes, Sir." Mr. Ellis Smith asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he is satisfied that the aircraft and allied in dustry is working and producing to the maximum capacity; what recent steps have been taken to secure the maximum output; is there a satisfactory system of decentralisation and grouping of firms making common types; and is he satis fied with the arrangements for exchange of advice gained by experience in design, technical and in production? Colonel Llewellin: I shall never be satisfied that we cannot secure some im provement in the output of the aircraft industry, and it is our constant en deavour, as I am sure it is that of the industry, to secure maximum produc tion. Satisfactory groupings of firms making common types of aircraft exist. Group arrangements exist for the ex change of information on both technical and production matters not only directly between members of the industry but also through the medium of my Depart ment, and we continually try to improve these arrangements. Mr. Smith: Have the Ministry con sidered the advisability of setting up representative advisory committees, composed of key-men throughout the in dustry, in order to advise on methods to be adopted to bring about a greater in crease in production? Colonel Llewellin: There are several committees in the industry with which I am in touch—one a technical committee and one a committee of main manuiac^" turers. When we are making one par ticular type of plane we have it in that group, and we are in constant touch with the group of manufacturers which are making it. Aluminium and Light Alloys Mr. Ellis Smith asked the Minister of Aircrait Production whether the supply of aluminium and light alloys is satisfactory; what refunds have been made by the industry to the Ministry; what is the average profit and are there satisfactory relations between the indus try and the Ministry? Colonel Llewellin: As regards refunds and average profits, there are several industries and several hundred firms concerned in the production of alu minium and light alloys. Price adjust ments have in some cases resulted in payment to the Ministry and in otheis by the Ministry, but the subject is highly complicated and one with which it is not possible to deal within the scope of an answer to a Parliamentary ques tion. Negotiations concerning further adjustments are now proceeding. The answers to the first and last parts of the question are in the affirmative. Mr. Smith: Can the House be in formed of the average profits of the firms in ,this association which have created so many difficulties for the Ministry ? Colonel Llewellin : There are very lafj^* numbers of firms making aluminium and magnesium castings and strips and other different components, and it is very difficult to obtain an average for all of them which would have any real relevance to the facts. Sir Richard Acland: Can the Minister say whether these people have yet allowed costing officers to go into their factories and find out for themselves what are the costs? Colonel Llewellin: Negotiations on these price matters are going on, and I have not the slightest doubt that our people have been in the factories, but, without notice, I would not like it to be said that they have. Sir R. Acland: After more than two years of war, does the Minister mean to say that costing accountants of the Ministry are not yet going to the?e fac tories to check up? Colonel Llewellin: I said I was almost certain that they have been in the fac tories, but if the hon. Member wishes to have that information and cares to put down a question, I will give him an answer.
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