HC Deb 01 December 1942 vol 385 cc1009-10
73. Mr. Granville

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the release from the Royal Air Force of the airman whose name, number and rank have been conveyed to him, in order that he may supervise the grocery business of G. Rowell Ward, Stradbroke, Suffolk, in view of the fact that he and his four brothers volunteered for the Fighting Forces before the loss of their father whose death was attributable to overwork in running this business without proper assistance?

Captain Balfour

This airman has not submitted any application for release from the R.A.F. Application was made for withdrawal from overseas draft and for posting to a station near to his home on compassionate grounds. Both these requests have been granted. On the compassionate aspect of the case as known to my Department, it is unlikely that an application for release, if made, would be approved. If an application is made on grounds of the national importance of the continuance of the grocery business of G. Rowell Ward, Stradbroke, Suffolk, this would have to be supported by the Ministry of Food before being considered by my Department. This aspect of the case was dealt with by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 22nd October last.

Mr. Granville

In view of the fact that, as the right hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, this is a very deserving case, and I have been to every Department in Whitehall concerned in the matter, including his own Department, can he assure me that the whole of the machinery is being used, and every effort exhausted, to try and deal fairly with this case?

Captain Balfour

No, Sir, I cannot give my hon. Friend this assurance. So far as my Department is concerned, the man has not complied with the laid-down official procedure of making an application himself. I am sure that my hon. Friend and the House will appreciate that this machinery must be used by the man himself in the first instance. When that machinery is used, I will certainly undertake that any representations are sympathetically and thoroughly looked at.

Mr. Granville

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—In view of the length of time during which the Minister and his Department have considered this matter, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.