§ SIR EDWARD GOURLEY (Sunderderland)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether it is in accordance with any recent precedent for a Member of Parliament to retain the active command of a regiment; and, whether it is with the consent of, and approval of, H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief, and the Secretary of State for War, that the hon. Member for 1251 Taunton retains the command of the Scots Greys without being seconded, as in the case of subalterns when elected to seats in Parliament?
§ * MR. BRODRICKSince 1887 no case has occurred of a commanding officer sitting in the House of Commons. No regulation, however, is in existence on the subject so far as officers above the rank of major are concerned; and no intimation was made to the hon. and gallant Member for Taunton that there was any military objection to his sitting in Parliament. A regulation was issued to the effect that any officer below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, on entering Parliament might be seconded or made supernumerary in his regiment. The regulation, however, is not compulsory, and such officers have sat in Parliament without being seconded. With regard to the hon. and gallant Member for Taunton, he has only a few months to complete his term of command, and before the next Session of Parliament arrangements will be made to prevent any clashing of his regimental and Parliamentary duties. The Secretary of State accepts the view that an officer in active command of his regiment should not, in future, sit in Parliament. A regulation will be issued on the subject. ["Hear, hear!"]