§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the Secretary of State for War, How many bandsmen there are in the Army at Home, the Militia, the Yeomanry, and the Volunteers; whether he is aware that a large proportion of them have been in the 935 habit of looking to the private engagements, in hours not required for military duty, of the regimental band to which they belong, as a legitimate source of livelihood; whether he has any reason to believe that the discretion heretofore vested in Commanding Officers, as to giving or withholding consent, has been abused; and, if such is not the case, if any adequate cause has been shown for the disturbance of the practice of the past, or for prohibiting the voluntary attendance of military bands at the social gatherings of persons in political sympathy?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)There are no Returns at the War Office from which the information sought could be given. I am aware that a large proportion of the bandsmen do look to private engagements as a means of increasing their income. I have no reason to believe that the discretion vested in Commanding Officers has been abused. There is no reason why these bands should not be engaged by people of any political opinion; but they must not attend political meetings in uniform.