§ Mr. Burkeasked the Secretary of State for Air the terms of the regulation or instruction which permits commanding officers to fine men for breaches of discipline; and for what breaches of discipline can serving personnel be fined?
§ Captain BalfourUnder Section 46 (2) (b) of the Air Force Act, a commanding officer may, subject to the airman's right to elect a trial by court martial, impose a fine for drunkenness. There is a scale varying from 5s. for a first offence to £1 for the fourth offence. For the fifth and every subsequent offence the fine is not less than £1, but in no circumstances may it exceed £2; and the commanding officer must refer to higher authority for approval as to the amount of the fine. Drunkenness is the only offence for which a commanding officer is authorised to award a fine, but on active service he may, under Section 46 (2) (d) of the Air Force Act, award the forfeiture of all ordinary pay for a period not exceeding 28 days for any offence under the Act, subject to the airman's right to elect to be tried by court martial. In the case of an airman not on active service, the maximum period of forfeiture is limited to 14 days and the punishment has been restricted by regulation to aircraft apprentices, apprentice clerks and boy entrants. In addition, a commanding officer may award a penal stoppage of pay to make good loss or damage caused by the airman's wrongful act of negligence. The amount of the stoppage is usually limited to the equivalent of 14 days' full pay. If, in exceptional circumstances, this amount is exceeded, the facts must be reported immediately to higher authority. The detailed regulations on the matter are1400W contained in King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions, paragraphs 1129, 1138, 1151 and 1152.