§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if an order has recently been issued by his Department forbidding dockyard employés to become candidates for a town council, board of guardians, or other public body, without first receiving the consent of the Admiralty; if so, en what grounds is such interference with the freedom of the men justified; and does the 238 prohibition apply to Parliamentary candidatures also?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe order referred to by the hon. Member promulgates an alteration in the dockyard regulations conveying not a restriction but an extension of the liberty hitherto enjoyed by dockyard employés. They are henceforth to be allowed to become candidates for county councils as well as district, borough, and parish councils. Parliamentary candidature is on a different footing, and under Order in Council a Civil servant has to resign his office as soon as his candidature for Parliament is announced.
§ Mr. SNOWDENUnder the amended regulations can a dockyard employé stand for a town council without getting special consent?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. I understand that the amended regulations have removed the restriction which formerly existed, and that now a candidate can stand for the town council without the leave of the Admiralty.