§ 17. Lieut.-Colonel Sharpasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why offers of Class B release sent by his Department to airmen serving overseas have not only to be accepted, but the acceptances returned to his Department before instructions for release can be issued; whether he is aware of the long delay thereby frequently caused; and whether he will alter the procedure so as to enable overseas commands to take immediate action to dispatch to this country airmen who have accepted Class B release.
§ Mr. de FreitasI would be grateful if my hon. and gallant Friend could give me particulars of delay caused in this way. It must be due to a misunderstanding, because all overseas commands have instructions to take immediate steps for sending an airman home once he has accepted Class B release. The delay in the case of the airman which my hon. and gallant Friend has brought to my notice, was due to quite different causes.
§ Lieut.-Colonel SharpCan the hon. Gentleman say whether he is aware of a letter, which he himself sent to me, in which he said that it was quite clear that the acceptance of Class B release must be received by the Air Ministry before authority could be given for the release of the airman?
§ Mr. de FreitasI cannot explain that divergency because the facts are as stated. I hope that the hon. and gallant Member will let me see that letter.