§ MR. CHILDERS (Edinburgh, S.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the effect of his decision, announced to the House on Friday last, will be that officers, under the present wide permission to wear plain clothes, may canvass, and bring to the poll, electors, whether soldiers or civilians, at the places where such officers are stationed; whether this decision confers on officers a privilege denied to noncommissioned officers and privates, who are never allowed to wear plain clothes; and, if he will reconsider his decision, and either restrict the permission to officers to wear plain clothes during an election at the places where they are stationed, or, in some other way, place officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under the same restrictions, and on the same footing, as to canvassing?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The decision to which the right hon. Gentleman refers was simply an announcement on my part that I did not propose to alter the Regulations which have hitherto been in force on this subject. The Rule is precisely the same as it was when the right hon. Gentleman was Secretary of State. But I will consider whether any change is required in order to carry out the objects of the Queen's Regulations.
§ MR. CHILDERSMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that soldiers have been admitted to the franchise in large numbers since I was Secretary of State for War?