asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the discretion to accept or reject application for compassionate release rests with commanding officers or the Air Ministry?

Authority to grant compassionate release rests solely with the Air Council, but a commanding officer may reject an application if he considers that the grounds do not warrant a recommendation to higher authority. If an airman feels himself aggrieved by the action of his commanding officer in rejecting his application, he has the right of appeal to the Air Officer Commanding under Section 43 of the Air Force Act.

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman now traced the application to which I referred his Department a few weeks ago?

If the hon. Member means the case which he raised recently by Question and on the Adjournment, I have found that at no time has this airman applied for his release from service in the R.A.F. At no time has application been made for permanent release. If he makes one, it will be considered fairly and reasonably.

In view of the fact that I have a copy of the Department's acknowledgment of this application, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.