§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has investigated the circumstances in which an officer of the Royal Air Force recently authorised the infliction of corporal punishment upon civilian juveniles at the Royal Air Force station, Finningley, near Doncaster.
Mr. WardI have studied the very full report on this case which has been submitted. These two boys were airmen's sons, and had broken into Royal Air Force property. The station commander acted with the parents' consent in what they thought to be the best interests of all concerned.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWill the Under-Secretary make it quite clear that it is not within the normal course of R.A.F. duties to administer a system of private justice in competition with magistrates and duly authorised officers? Is it not quite undesirable that this practice should continue, even with the parents' consent?
Mr. WardThe action was certainly unorthodox, but no offence seems to have 1699 been committed, because the station commander acted with the parents' consent. He was anxious in the boys' own interest that they should not start with a police record so early in life.
§ Mr. Peter FreemanCan the hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such an unjustifiable assault?