The decisions made under The Air Force Act are made by those persons placed in authority by virtue of their Rank and experience as laid down by that Act of Parliament.
Similarly, the decision to order the use a grounded aircraft type with an incomplete C of A clearance, especially for a task such as this, in marginal weather, against the specific request of the captain of said task, whilst suing the manufacturer of said machine because of the doubts already raised....
Whichever way this verdict goes, there are surely issues about negligence higher up the chain of command.