§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the Annual Report on the Army [Cd. 3365], page 84, what were the three infantry battalions and the three cavalry regiments with the greatest number of courts martial during the year ending 30th September, 1906, specifying the number in each case, and also the respective percentages of men tried to average strength.
§ MR. HALDANEMy military advisers are strongly of opinion that to publish the crimes of certain battalions and regiments would not be conductive to esprit de corps and would be in every way inadvisable. In this view I concur. The state of discipline in all regiments and battalions is very carefully watched.
§ MR. LEAIf that is the view the right hon. Gentleman takes, how is it possible for any Member of this House to ask Questions as to any battalion or regiment in which crime is predominant to an abnormal extent?
†See Cols. 496–6.
§ MR. HALDANEIf crime is really predominant to an abnormal extent, any Question addressed to me will have the closest attention; but it is not, I think, desirable to ask roving questions.