§ 35. Mr. ATKEYasked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that Captain Kenrick Edward Clayton, who served in the South 2275 African. War and who rejoined in 1914, and is now an officer of the Royal Air Force serving at No. 15 Training Squadron, Hucknall, Notts, was placed under close arrest on the 24th April last for an alleged offence, and that, although application was made by his legal advisers for speedy trial, the hearing of the court-martial did not take place till the 17th June last, and that since then no promulgation of the finding has yet been made, and that Captain Clayton throughout such period has been, and still is, tinder close arrest; and whether, having regard to the desirability of the popularity of the Army and the Air Force as a profession, some more just and speedy method can be devised of dealing with an officer charged with an offence?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Major-General Seely)The inquiries into this case are not yet complete, and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend at an early date.