§ 38. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what 345 action he is taking in regard to the complaints as to the treatment of officers serving at the Air Ministry in the Department of Civil Aviation?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadA certain number of complaints have, during the past 12 months, been made depart-mentally and have been dealt with. My Noble Friend is, however, having a further inquiry made into the conditions in the directorate.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what is the nature of the inquiry which his Noble Friend is making? Is it a commission of inquiry, or what is the nature of the inquiry which is proceeding?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadNo, Sir, it is in no sense a big commission of inquiry. It is merely an inquiry connected with Departmental working.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherDoes not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that it is desirable that this inquiry should be held by people who are quite outside the Department, any Service Department or any Government Office? May I ask for a reply on that point?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI am not suggesting that the inquiry is merely being carried out with the personnel within the Department. What I meant was that there is not a big Commission sitting.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman, after consulting his Noble Friend, consider whether he cannot inform the House of the precise nature of the inquiry which is taking place, and will he say who are the people concerned in making the inquiry?