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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2222.PDF
45° FLIGHT OCTOBER 22ND, 1942 IN PARLIAMENT Faulty Runways : No Change in A.T.C. Grants System : New Methods Against Raiders Loss of the "Clare" : Charge of Unfair Privilege : Security Problem Airfield Construction Captain York asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the faulty construction of the runways of airfields, the names of which he has been given ? The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair): In the case of one oi the two aerodromes in question I am satisfied that there was no fault of con struction. In the other case, although there is no suggestion of major negli gence on the part of the contractor, he has agreed to replace certain bays where there was reason to complain of the quality and finish of the work, but not where the deterioration of the surface was due to frost. Captain York: Was the decision to continue the work during inclement weather that of the Air Ministry or of the contractor? Sir A. Sinclair: The decision to con tinue in spite of the weather was due to operational requirements. A.T.C. Grants Mr. I. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the present system of. financing squad rons of the Air Training Corps by means of capitation grants leaves many squad rons unable to meet their headquarter expenses and compels them to rely on public charity; and whether he will revise the system in such a way that all headquarter expenses are borne cen trally? Sir A, Sinclair: With regard to the first port of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart) on 28th April, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. As for the second part, experi ence has shown that the present system of capitation grants administered locally has worked well. It was adopted after full-consideration of the alternative of direct reimbursement of expenses, and I do not consider that there would be any advantage in changing it. Mr. Thpmas: Is my right hon. Friend aware that this system leads squadrons to concentrate upon scholastic examina- lion, which is not necessarily the best test of efficiency? Would he consider basing the per capita grant on a 75 per cent, attendance at classes and parades? Sir A. Sinclair: I fully realise that there is a case for a change, but this case has been most carefully considered, and we have decided to stick to the pre sent system. Enemy Daylight Raids Sir Leonard Lyle asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider adopting the procedure of catapulting fighter aeroplanes from a few specially selected points in the South-East, South and South-Western areas to do some thing to check the growing number of tip-and-run daylight raids by enemy air craft? Sir A. Sinclair : I can assure'the hon. Member that new methods of countering enemy air attacks of all kinds are being constantly studied. It would not be in the public interest to say more. Sir L. Lyle : While I appreciate that there are many more calls on Fighter Command, does not my right hon. Friend think that much more energetic measures should be taken to deal with these daily raids, which are causing, in the aggregate, many casualties and a certain amount of distress? Sir A. Sinclair : No, Sir. I cannot help wondering whether my hon. Friend knows how energetic the measures are that we are taking at the present time. Sir H. Williams : Why do they always blow the siren after I have heard the bombs drop when I am on the South coast ? Flying-boat Clare Mr. Simmonds asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a statement with regard to the loss of the flying-boat Clare. Sir A. Sinclair: The flying-boat Clare, belonging to and operated by the British Overseas Airways Corpora tion, was, unfortunately, lost from causes other than enemy action while on passage from West Africa to the United Kingdom with all on board numbering thirteen passengers and six crew. An in vestigation is being held into the causes of the accident, and as soon as a report is available I will consider whether a further statement can be made. I am sure the House would wish to express its sympathy with the relatives of those who have lost their lives, Mr. Simmonds: Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that a number of the aircraft of British Overseas Airways are much over age, and would he, there fore, see whether some action can be taken to increase the number of modern aircraft available to the Corporation? Sir A. Sinclair: I can assure my hon. Friend that this point has been for some time very much in my mind, and that such action as he has in mind has already been taken. Special Trains for Air Travellers Mr. Keeling asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Trans port whether he is aware of the waste of coal and man-power in running special trains to and from airports for British Airways passengers who could be carried in the ordinary trains; and whether he will ask the railway executive not to authorise such trains as long as special trains for holidays are refused? Mr. Noel-Baker : I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that the run ning of these trains involves a waste of coal. They were authorised because the traffic could not economically or con veniently be carried by the ordinary trains. Apart from that consideration, my hon. Friend will, I am sure, recognise the- urgent importance of making the overseas air services as rapid and as reliable as possible. They are not used for pleasure or recreation, and the run ning of special trains in connection with these overseas services cannot properly be compared with holiday services. Mr. Keeling : Does the hon. Gentle man realise that when people see these special trains running—on one day last month there were fewer than 15 pas sengers—they find it very difficult to believe that the Government are in earnest in their appeal for coal economy? Will he look again into a matter which constitutes a scandalous case of unfair privilege ? Mr. Noel-Baker : With great respect, I cannot accept the suggestion that this is unfair privilege. I have looked into it very carefully. Nearly every day the addition of the air service coaches to an ordinary train would mean double head ing the ordinary train, with a loss of engine power and engines which could be used for heavy freight traffic. This ser vice is only for people engaged on urgent Government work, and if they missed their plane it would be very much against the national interest. Mr. Keeling : That is not true. Mr. Shinwell : But are we to ask miners to provide coal so that these people can have special privileges? Mr. Noel-Baker : I have explained that in our view this does not involve a waste of coal. It is, possibly, a coal economy. Mr. Shinwell : Why? Mr. Noel-Baker : Because light pas senger engines, instead of heavy pas senger engines, are used. Civilian Residents on Airdromes Mr. John Dugdale asked the Secretary of State for Air whether alternative accommodation has now been found for the civilians living on the airdrome of which he has been informed; and whether there are any operational air dromes on which civilians are still allowed to live? Sir A. Sinclair: Alternative accommo dation for the civilians referred to in. the first part of the Question has not yet been found. The answer to the second part is that a number of civilians are employed in various capacities on opera tional airdromes In addition, it does occasionally happen that alternative accommodation cannot be found for civilians whose houses have been in cluded within the boundaries of an air drome, and that they have to be left temporarily in residence. Mr. Dugdale: Is the right hon. Gentle man aware that in this case, and pos sibly in others, the civilians are able to get out at night when the airdrome is closed, and that they go into the public houses in the village and explain that the airdrome is closed at night for operational reasons? Does he think that this is satisfactory? Sir A. Sinclair: I was not aware of that fact until my hon. Friend informed me of it. The position is that the move ments of these civilians, as they live in a protected area, are, of course, under the control of the officer commanding the station. Now that my hon. friend has brought these facts to my notice, I am having inquiries made.
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