§ 77. Mr. Harold Wilsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, following his investigations into the case of 2479800, Aircraftman A. Kirby, he can now state what arrangements are to be made for notifying parents in the case of National Service and other personnel seriously injured while on duty.
Mr. WardMy noble Friend gave the right hon. Member full details of the present arrangements in his letter of 12th February. Briefly, they are as follows. When airmen are seriously, dangerously, or mentally ill, the next-of-kin are told at once. In less serious cases, we write officially at regular intervals to the next-of-kin of airmen under 18, but we leave airmen over 18 to decide for themselves whether or not to tell their relatives that they are ill. Medical staffs impress upon patients the need to keep in touch with their relatives and are always ready to write home on behalf of those in their charge. These arrangements have worked well for many years.