Corporal Patchett

HC Deb 10 July 1963 vol 680 cc1223-5

13. Mr. Paget

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the desertion of Corporal Patchett.

Mr. Godber

Corporal Patchett, who is a member of the Intelligence Corps, has been missing from his unit in Berlin since 2nd July, 1963. An inquiry is being held into the circumstances of his absence.

Mr. Paget

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication at all of how people are selected for the Intelligence Corps and particularly for posting to such a sensitive area as Berlin? This appears to be a young man with a highly unsatisfactory record of employment, and also with a girl friend with East German links. Does it not seem a very odd selection?

Mr. Godber

There are factors in this which obviously have to be looked at by the inquiry. As to the last point, I would suggest that the links with the girl friend did not arise until after the man had been selected and after he had reached Berlin.

Mr. Fernyhough

As defections of this kind affecting both East and West appear to be occurring quite frequently, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in order to avoid all this trouble and these inquiries he might consider setting up a sensible transfer system?

Mr. Godber

I take note of the hon Gentleman's suggestion. I do not think I could do more.

Sir W. Robson Brown

Will my right hon. Friend investigate the allegations that have been made that this young man's career in commercial life before he joined the Army was not checked and correctly investigated, and if not, why not?

Mr. Godber

As to the positive vetting which was employed, there were two referees and both gave most excellent reports, and this was the basis on which the man was accepted for this work. As I have said, this will be discussed, among other things, in the inquiry which has been set up.

Mr. Wigg

Is it not a fact that the inquiries were made of the vicar of the man's parish, and that no reference was made to his employer, no reference was made to the school authorities and no reference was made to anyone who knew anything about him? Will the right hon. Gentleman also be good enough to say whether the inquiry which is being made is the normal inquiry which is always held when a soldier is illegally absent and, if that is the case, how can it possibly inquire into the other matters which the right hon. Gentleman said it would?

Mr. Godber

There will be the normal inquiry but, obviously, this does not prevent other inquiries from being made. In regard to the particular point which the hon. Gentleman raised, it is perfectly true that the previous employer was not questioned. As I said, two referees were asked for, and two were given, and both of them gave very satisfactory reports.