§ 43. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Secretary of State for Air what action was taken respecting the accountants' officer who embezzled £735 10s. 3d. between February and May, 1922, from the Royal Air Force; and has any disciplinary action been taken against the officer who was responsible for the gazettement of this accountant without verifying his official reference with the Admiralty, who, in February, 1922, notified the Air Ministry of his unsatisfactory conduct?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, the accountant officer referred to was apprehended, convicted of embezzlement, and sentenced to three years' penal servitude. As regards the second part, this accountant officer had appeared before a selection board, 496 and had produced testimonials which appeared eminently satisfactory from officers under whom he had served. This was early in 1922, at a time when the new station accounting system had only just been introduced, and a considerable number of accountant officers was therefore urgently required. In order to avoid delay, the officer in question was gazetted before the usual inquiry had been addressed to the Admiralty to verify his previous service under that Department. The present practice is to verify previous service in all cases before gazettement, and a case of this kind should not occur again. I do not think that disciplinary action against any individual is called for in the circumstances.