§ 55 and 56. Mr. E. J. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) in view of the fact that Major Vernon has chosen to make his representations concerning his dismissal as an individual and through the staff side of the National Whitley Council, and that it is common in cases of this kind when an appeal is made for the appellant to be accompanied by a friend or advocate, whether, if representatives of the national staff side can be received by the Minister, there will be any difficulty in including Major Vernon in the deputation, thus fufilling the technical requirements;
(2) in view of the fact that the refusal to receive a deputation of the staff side of the National Whitley Council on the Vernon case is based in the main on the proviso that the grounds on which the appeal is made must be given in writing beforehand, whether he is aware that the staff side, which is handling this case, wishes to lay before him oral and not written evidence; and what is the reason why such oral evidence cannot be accepted to justify the reception of the deputation?
§ Sir K. WoodIn the reply which he gave on my behalf on 18th July, the Under-Secretary of State explained that I felt unable to receive a deputation from the staff side of the National Whitley Council in this matter because the recognised procedure already provided ample 3098 facilities for representations to be made; and I see no reason to alter my decision.