§ Mr. Skinnardasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that an order Ref. 232G/2929/2/P.1 issued on 17th December, 1945, from H.Q. 232 Group, R.A.F., states that an airman is not allowed, directly or indirectly, to communicate with a Member of Parliament to obtain redress of grievance; and if he will take immediate steps to countermand this order and institute disciplinary action against those responsible.
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing this order to our notice. It has, of course, been immediately cancelled. I have looked into the case carefully and am satisfied that the issue of the order wag, a genuine 255W mistake, though a foolish one. So I do not think disciplinary action is called for. But what we have done is once again to call the attention of all Service authorities to the unquestioned right of all airmen to write to their Members by publishing in our Service journals the assurance on this point given by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 19th November last.