HC Deb 30 May 1895 vol 34 cc641-2
MR. BEITH

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Presbyterian Acting Chaplain, ministering at Fort George, Inverness-shire, does not preach in Gaelic, while the great majority of the troops at the depôt are Gaelic-speaking, and members and adherents of the Free Church; and, if the Government will grant the privileges and remuneration of an Acting Chaplain to a minister who can preach in Gaelic, and will be nominated by the Free Church of Scotland for service among the troops at that depôt?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The Acting Chaplain of a depôt is appointed on the recommendation of the Commanding Officer, and while he holds the appointment it is not in the power of the War Department to grant the emoluments and privileges of the office to any other minister. I certainly think that at Fort George, where a large proportion, at any rate, of the recruits must be Gaelic-speaking, the Acting Chaplain ought to be able to speak Gaelic, and I am making some inquiry into this individual case. I may add that the present Acting Chaplain has held the appointment for eleven years.

MR. WEIR

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would take some steps for the appointment of a Gaelic-speaking minister at a depôt where there were as many as 400 Gaelic-speaking soldiers.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I will inquire whether it is the case that there are so many Gaelic-speaking recruits at the depôt. If there are so many who are without the services of a Gaelic-speaking minister, that is—I am expressing my own opinion only—a state of things that ought not to exist.

MR. BEITH

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the advisability of appointing a Gaelic-speaking minister as suggested in his question.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

No, Sir; an Acting Chaplain has been appointed, and while he is Acting Chaplain he must receive the payment in respect of the services for the Presbyterian troops. We cannot duplicate the emoluments of the Chaplain, and the present Acting Chaplain, as long as he holds the office, must, I am afraid, receive the emoluments.