§ 63. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Defence why he continues to 381W include in the figures of absenteeism from the Services personnel who have been absent without leave from the Royal Air Force since 1929, from the Army since 1945 and from the Royal Navy since 1951; and whether it is the policy of his Department that these men should be liable to recall to the Services.
§ Mr. Reynolds:As the hon. Member knows, absence without leave is a serious offence under Acts approved by Parliament. I can assure him that, irrespective of their methods of maintaining statistics of such absences, all three Services use their discretion where appropriate in dealing with individual cases: but the offence cannot be condoned or overlooked whatever its date. A man who is absent without leave remains a member of his Service and liable to complete the remaining portions of his engagement. The question of recall does not arise.