§ Mr. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War a question, of which have given him private notice, namely, 844 on what grounds—after all arrangements have been made—a telegram was sent to the Headmaster of Harrow School forbidding any boys belonging to the Officers', Training Corps joining in the Empire Day parade this afternoon?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe answer to the question is on two grounds: The first is that neither this Government nor the late Government has ever recognised Empire Day officially; the second ground is that the Army is a whole, and the Officers' Training Corps is part of, and subject to the same conditions as apply to the Army.
§ Mr. ASHLEYMay I ask if Empire Day is a political celebration?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not an urgent question.
§ Mr. ASHLEYMay I ask whether, since the Postmaster-General has permitted postal servants in uniform to attend Empire Day celebration why should not the schoolboys be allowed to do so?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe Postmaster-General does not run an Army.