HC Deb 16 August 1894 vol 28 cc1243-4
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the report in The Surrey Advertiser of 4th August, relative to the proceedings of the Cranleigh Habitation of the Primrose League, at which the band of the West Surrey Regiment is stated to have attended and played; whether he is aware that the report shows that the gathering was a purely Party one; that Sir Richard Webster, M.P., spoke on political subjects, and apologised for the absence of another Conservative Member; whether the War Office has several times declared that military bands must not attend Party meetings; and who is responsible for inviting the band to be present on this occasion, and who sanctioned its attendance on behalf of the regiment?

MR. WOODALL

(who replied) said: The attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the report referred to. In reply to inquiries since made, it appears that permission for the band to play at Cranleigh was given by the officer commanding the 2nd Regimental District at the request of the hon. and learned Member for the Isle of Wight, who is a resident in the locality. The officer commanding was, however, unaware that it was intended to be employed at a Primrose League meeting. Had he anticipated that it would have been so employed he would have refused permission on the ground that it was contrary to the Queen's Regulations.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Am I to understand that the band of any regiment will be granted to anyone who applies for it without any statement as to the object for which it is required?

* MR. WOODALL

It was undoubtedly the duty of the Commanding Officer before granting permission to satisfy himself that the band was intended to be used in a way consistent with the Queen's Regulations. He appears to have failed in that particular.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Did the letter addressed to the officer commanding by the hon. and learned Member for the Isle of Wight withhold from him the information as to the kind of gathering the band was to play at?

* MR. WOODALL

It did not say what the nature and purpose of the particular gathering was.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.E.)

Are we to understand that an ex-Attorney General of this House has broken the law?

[No answer was given.]