HC Deb 16 December 1942 vol 385 cc1899-901
18. Mr. Granville

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department have now traced receiving the application of Corporal A. J. Ward, No. 1155648, submitted to his commanding officer on 1st August, 1942, for compassionate release and referred to in an Air Ministry letter A.426894/42/.P.3.E, of 9th November, 1942, and of the signed petition from residents of Stradbroke, Suffolk, in support of this application?

Captain Balfour

Yes, Sir. The information I gave in this House on 1st December and repeated on the following day, to the effect that this airman had made no application for release from the R.A.F., was based on a report from the unit in which the airman previously served and which is now abroad. Inquiries have been pursued, and I now find that an application for temporary release from the Royal Air Force, in order to manage the family grocery busines was, in fact, made by this airman on 8th August last. After consultation with the Ministry of Food, the application was refused; but the airman was removed from overseas draft and given a special posting near his home.

I must express regret that the information which I gave the House has since proved to be inaccurate. I need hardly say that it was given in good faith and according to the information available to me at that time, and I trust the hon. Member will accept my apologies.

As regards the second part of the Question, I have traced that this petition was sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the hon. Member on 11th October. Following this the special posting of this airman near his home was arranged, and the petition was returned to the hon. Member.

Mr. Granville

While thanking the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for his compassionate reply, may I ask whether, as this case has been going on since last August and the local food office has recommended this man's release, he would consider expediting the matter?

Captain Balfour

A further application was received on 5th December, and I took it upon myself to see that it was dealt with promptly. It was referred to the Ministry of Food for consideration on the ground that the family grocery business was essential to the distribution of food in that area. I have received a reply from the Ministry of Food stating that after consideration they can find no grounds to support Corporal Ward's application for temporary release. As regards the question of release on compassionate grounds, I have considered the case again, but I must say that the application is nothing like so strong as many we have had to refuse. This man has been seen by his commanding officer and has had seven days' extra leave added to his Christmas leave. In addition, it has been arranged that he should have a sleeping-out pass to allow him to go home on an average of three days a fortnight, so I think it will be agreed that we have tried to deal with this case sympathetically.

Mr. Bellenger

With reference to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's remark about Christmas leave, are we to understand that other members of the Air Force are to be eligible for Christmas leave?

Captain Balfour

No, Sir, this man may have had some leave due to him, and I suppose it was arranged that he should have it over Christmas.

Mr. Bellenger

But we understood that all Christmas leave was to be stopped.

Captain Balfour

I do not know if it is exactly at Christmas; it is probably round about either side of Christmas.