§ MR. DAVID MACIVER (Liverpool, Kirkdale)To ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the parchment certificate of character (Army Form B 2077) given to all soldiers who served in South Africa, whether he is aware that a rule exists that the men receiving these certificates should not permit them to leave their possession; and, seeing that the Post Office authorities have published a notice calling upon all of its staff returning from the Front to produce the certificates for the inspection of supervising officers, will he state if the men are entitled to obey this order.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) My hon. friend has been misinformed. There is no rule whatever forbidding soldiers to part with their character parchment certificate for proper purposes, and the Post Office authorities are exercising a very wise precaution in calling upon the men to produce their certificates.