§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for Air if his attention has been drawn to the jury's rider as to the administration of Air Force accounts in the case of two officers of the Royal Air Force who were convicted at the Old Bailey for fraudulently converting a cheque for £3,000; and what action is being taken in this matter?
§ Sir S. HOAREMy attention has been drawn to the case to which, presumably, the hon. and gallant Member refers. The facts were not, however, as stated in his question; the jury's rider had no reference to the administration of Air Force accounts, which were in no way in question; the two officers concerned were not Royal Air Force officers but temporary officials serving the Air Ministry in a civil capacity, and they were neither charged with nor convicted of fraudulent conversion. The jury's rider censured them for conduct disclosed in the evidence which they gave as witnesses for the prosecution, and the 2119W action to be taken by my Department in the case is at present under consideration.