§ 51. Mr. Dribergasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in what circumstances details from medical reports on men and women serving in the Royal Air Force are disclosed to outside persons; and to whom.
Mr. WardDetails from such reports are only disclosed if a member of the Royal Air Force is charged with a serious criminal offence, such as murder. In a case of that kind, the medical record is made available to both the prosecution and the defence.
§ Mr. DribergDoes that answer mean that the practice of the Air Ministry differs in some respects from the practice of the War Office and the Army, and could the hon. Gentleman say whether he finds, in practice, that his Department's policy is adequate?
Mr. WardOur practice at courts martial differs a little in detail from that of the Army, but the result is very much the same. The defence, in confidence, may be given an idea of the contents of the reports to help in the preparation of their case, and the medical authority concerned may be called as a witness. No report or extract from it, however, may be produced in court.