§ 20 and 21. Mr. Mikardoasked the Secretary of State for War (I) if he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the Adjutant-General's order setting up welfare committees;
(2) what are the constitution, terms of reference and procedure of the welfare committees to be set up by order of the Adjutant-General.
22. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Secretary of State for War the composition of unit welfare committees recommended in the instructions he has issued to formation commanders; and by what means will their members be chosen.
§ 26. Mr. James Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for War the functions of the new welfare committees set up in Army units.
§ 28. Mr. William Wellsasked the Secretary of State for War whether the welfare committees, for whose formation he has issued instructions to the Army, are to he on a unit basis; whether they are to contain representatives of other ranks; and whether they are to be elected by ballot.
§ 29. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the instructions sent out to formation commanders on the subject of unit welfare committees; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. BellengerNo Army Order or Army Council Instruction has yet been issued on the subject of welfare committees. The instructions to Army formation commanders to which I referred in the course of the Debate on the Committee stage of the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill on 26th March were conveyed in a personal letter from the Adjutant-General to commanders asking them to see that in all units under their command the idea of welfare committees is known and given a fair trial. Up to the present no terms of reference, method of composition or election of representatives of such committees have been laid down, as their development is still in an experimental stage. I am anxious, as I have said, not to infringe the responsibility of commanding officers in this field, and a further development of the system is desirable before any attempt is made to govern procedure by official instructions. The one letter on the subject which has been 1823 written by the Adjutant-General is a personal one and is not the sort of document which would customarily he placed in the Library of this House.
§ Mr. MikardoIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the statement he has just made conflicts diametrically with what he said during the Debate on the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill when, after saying that these welfare committees were no good, he said that instructions had been given for them to be set up anyway? How does he reconcile these diametrically opposed views?
§ Mr. BellengerPerhaps my hon. Friend's interpretation of "diametrical" is different from mine. I have read in HANSARD what I said, and I think I then told the House what I have said today, though not at such great length, namely, that the Adjutant-General had written to formation commanders.
Mr. H. D. HughesWill my right hon. Friend recommend to unit commanders that they should study the experience of the Navy, and set up welfare committees on similar lines?
§ Mr. BellengerYes, Sir, I shall be only too glad to do so, and I shall myself pay particular attention to what the Navy are ultimately going to do.
§ Mr. CallaghanIn view of the difficulties which have arisen, might I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is in favour or not in favour of welfare committees of this sort?
§ Mr. BellengerNo difficulty has arisen. I stand by what I said on the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill, that I want to place the responsibility fairly and squarely on commanding officers.
§ Mr. CallaghanMy right hon. Friend has not answered my question.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill my right hon. Friend tell us what is his idea about welfare committees, and what is his policy?
§ Mr. BellengerNo, Sir, not by question and answer. I think I said that I was in general sympathy with the spirit of the Amendment which was moved and withdrawn by my hon. Friend.