asked the Secretary of State for Air why there is a divergence in the rate of release for chaplains according to their religious denomination; how many Church of England, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and United Board chaplains are still in the Service; and when equality will be reached.

Most of the chaplains now in the R.A.F. have voluntarily agreed to defer their release; but the proportion who have done so has varied in each denomination. The rate of release has, therefore, varied too. By June, however, the variations will only be of one group. With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will send him in writing the numbers of the chaplains in the Service.

Will the Minister say which is the one group which is going to suffer? Why is it that these smaller denominations have suffered, whereas the Church of England and the Roman Catholics are being given preference?

The release groups in June for the Church of England and Roman Catholics will be 49, Methodists 50, Presbyterian 49, United Board 50, so that, so far as the hon. and gallant Member's supplementary goes, the Church of England and the Roman Catholics are behind.

We are now hearing about June but when I put down the Question I was asking about the last list which was issued by the Air Force, about a fortnight or so ago.

In March the release groups that were reached were: Church of England 46, Roman Catholics 48, Methodists 49, Presbyterian 48. United Board 50, so that the same proposition remains true.