asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will, having regard to the climatic and other conditions obtaining in the Far East, consider making a considerable reduction in the tour of duty of members of the R.A.F. there.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the tour of duty for members of the Royal Air Force in the Far East was reduced by six months in October, 1946. It now stands at two years in Japan, and two and a half years in the area covered by Far East Command, as compared with three years before the war. I am afraid that I cannot see any prospect of still further reducing these tours of duty.