HC Deb 19 December 1945 vol 417 cc1323-5
40. Flight-Lieutenant Teeling

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why an officer, of whose identity he has been informed, who had been serving in Burma and embarked for this country for demobilisation on 3rd October, and is now on his final leave, has received no pay or allowances, including his final leave pay, since the date of his embarkation; and whether he will in future see that officers and men may enjoy their demobilisation leave without financial worry due to inefficiency in the Accounts Department.

Mr. Strachey

Payments for credit to this officer's account were made on 2nd November and 1st December.

Flight-Lieutenant Teeling

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to my information, it is only during the last five days that the money has actually been paid into the bank, and will he make sure in future that people receive their allowances during the 56 days, so that they can really have demobilisation leave?

Mr. Strachey

I am afraid there is a conflict as to the facts. I assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I have been into the matter, and the payments were made on those dates.

Captain Marsden

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in accordance with your Ruling of two days ago that Questions of this nature should have been received at the Table?

Mr. Speaker

It is for the hon. Member putting the Question to decide whether it raises a matter of principle that he wants to put to the Minister.

75. Mr. Driberg

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that 3060749 Aircraftman F. G. Isaac has been confined to camp for three days on a charge of denying that he had written a letter, published in the "Grantham Journal," knowing this statement to be untrue; and if he will take disciplinary action against those responsible for this breach of the undertaking that there would be no further disciplinary action against this airman and cause suitable amends to be made to him.

Mr. Strachey

When I made my statement last week, A.C.2 Isaac had been awarded three days confined to camp. He was in sick quarters at the time so the punishment was purely nominal and it does not involve any entry on his Service Conduct Sheet. What I said was that no further disciplinary action would be taken against him. There was no breach of my undertaking. As to the future, Members may like to know that this whole Unit will be disbanded in the immediate future and its members posted to other stations.