§ Captain ELLICE (St. Andrews Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in appointing Scotch Army Presbyterian chaplains, he will endeavour to give to the Scottish Free Churches their fair share of such appointments.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe existing commissioned Presbyterian Chaplains belong to the Established Church of Scotland, the United Free Church of Scotland, and the Irish Presbyterian Church. The soldier's attestation form, on which his religion is stated, does not distinguish between the various sects of Presbyterianism, and it is not therefore possible to arrive at a division of Presbyterian Chaplains' commissions based on the proportionate strength of these three sects in the Army. But I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that there is every desire to make these appointments in such a way as to ensure that each of the recognised creeds should be adequately represented in the Army.