§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether men who were absentees or deserters from the 1245W Royal Flying Corps prior to the establishment of the Air Ministry are now liable to punishment; and, seeing that there is a conflict of opinion between the War Office and the Air Ministry as to the authority having jurisdiction and the action to be taken in such cases, if he is prepared to authorise a general amnesty?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINDeserters from the Royal Flying Corps prior to the establishment of the Air Ministry are still liable to punishment under the Army Act for their offence, and under the Air Force Act for their desertion from the Royal Air Force after the establishment of the Air Ministry. There is no conflict of opinion between the War Office and the Air Ministry as to the authority having jurisdiction and action in such cases. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.