HC Deb 18 October 1946 vol 427 cc269-70W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that Regulation No. 1072, Clauses 4 and 5 of the King's Regulations for the R.A.F., requires officers of that Force, whether active or retired, to submit for the approval of the Air Council any spoken or written communication; that the right of a retired specialist medical officer to deliver a presidential address at a medical meeting was, on the authority of this regulation, questioned, with the result that the officer proposed to resign his presidential office; and whether he will consider modification of this regulation.

Mr. de Freitas

This doctor retired from the Royal Air Force 16 years ago, since when the clause referring to retired officers in paragraph 1072 of the King's Regulations has been removed. He should have been told so when first he made his application to the Department, and I am sorry this was not done immediately. I can assure the hon. Member that we do not intend to restrict the professional freedom of doctors in the R.A.F.