HC Deb 28 January 1953 vol 510 cc984-5
10. Mr. Beswick

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air under what regulation or instruction an airman, who suffers the loss of a parent, can be granted leave for the purpose of winding up the estate but not for other compassionate reasons; and what must be the value of the estate before leave is granted.

Mr. Ward

A confidential Air Council letter dated 17th October, 1949. The value of the estate is immaterial.

Mr. Beswick

Is not the situation quite intolerable to this House that a man can be given leave to wind up financial affairs but cannot be given leave on other compassionate grounds? Will he have this matter looked into again?

Mr. Ward

That is not quite true. It is only one of the factors which commanders-in-chief take into consideration when considering whether the compassionate grounds are strong enough for giving leave from overseas theatres.

Dr. King

Does the Minister really think that when a bereaved airman on active service applies for compassionate leave the winding-up of property has very much to do with it? What he really wants to do is to see his surviving parent, so will the Under-Secretary look again into the case that was brought to his notice recently?

Mr. Ward

Obviously if the surviving parent is in ill-health or is prostrated with grief or is alone without any other near relative, there would be strong compassionate grounds, but none of those considerations applied to that case.

Mr. Beswick

From what the Under-Secretary has said today, and what he said last week, it now appears that if there are two cases exactly similar, except that in one case there are some financial considerations to be taken into account, he will grant leave in the second case and not in the first, and is not that against the wishes of this House?

Mr. Ward

No, Sir, the position is that the commanders-in-chief on the spot in overseas theatres have wide discretionary powers. Guidance in exercising those powers has been given to them in the form of the Air Council letter, including an appendix giving examples of the kind of cases in which these considerations should he applied. Further than that, we must leave it to the commanders-in-chief after giving them what guidance we can.