§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the officer commanding the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards has adopted a practice of additionally punishing non-commissioned officers by forfeiting their indulgences for a certain time as well as reprimanding them; and whether, in view of the fact that it is stated in the Queen's Regulations that non-commissioned officers are not subject to summary or minor punishments, but that they may be reprimanded, and that the above-mentioned practice was introduced by the present commanding officer in 1890, it is his intention to take any action in the matter?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIf the hon. Member refers to the withholding, for certain short periods, of the indulgences which might be granted to non-commissioned officers, below the rank of full sergeant, who have been reprimanded, I am advised that, as the grant of such indulgences is altogether permissive, a commanding officer is justified 556 in refusing them if he thinks fit to do so in the interest of discipline.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONAs the refusal of these indulgences constitutes a great deprivation to the non-commissioned officers, I beg to give Notice that I shall draw attention to the matter on the Estimates.