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Personal Case

Volume 465: debated on Wednesday 25 May 1949

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14.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many days 2411872 A.C.2 H. L. Taylor has served in the Royal Air Force; how many of these days he has spent in sick bay, hospital or on leave; what medical grading he received on going into the Royal Air Force; what his grade is now; and what duties he is now performing.

He has served 203 days and 137 of these he has spent in sick bay, hospital or on leave. When he entered the Royal Air Force he was classified as fit for ground duty anywhere but he has since been downgraded as fit for home service only. He is now on his recruits' training course.

Is it not clear that this young man's health has been seriously impaired by his short period of service and that he is of very little value indeed to the Service—so far, in fact, he has provided no service of any value at all; will my hon. Friend bear in mind that this man's brother left the Army broken in health, and will he seriously consider the possibility of discharging this man from the Service?

This has been very carefully considered. The doctors believe this man to be getting on well, that the Service will benefit him and that he will give benefit to the Service. He will be re-examined again in a couple of months and may well be upgraded in health.

Will my hon. Friend say on what basis he makes the remarks that the Service will be of benefit to this man or that he will be of benefit to the Service, in view of the fact that 130 out of his 200 days' service have been spent sick?

On the first point, he is receiving excellent medical attention; we are taking very great care of him. On the second point, he still has many days' service left and we think we can get good value from him.