§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Down, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Roman Catholic authorities responsible for the celebration of the festival of Corpus Christi in Arundel have arranged for the bands of two of His Majesty's regiments to take part in the procession along the public highway; and, if so, whether sanction will be given to this arrangement.
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe matter is one which was dealt with by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, without reference to the War Office, but I understand that permission was given to the band of the Queen's Regiment to take part in the procession referred to, which took place in June in Arundel Park. There is nothing in the Regulations which would prohibit this. I do not, however, consider that the practice is a desirable one, and the Army Council has expressed its opinion that it should not be repeated. The General Officer Commanding has been so informed.
§ * MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI cannot make any more definite statement than is contained in the Answer I have just given to the hon. Member. My words were that the practice would not be repeated.