Captain O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to officers of the Regular Army who are on half-pay as Members of the House of Commons, whether he will state what will be their exact positions as regards seniority if they rejoin their regiments on full pay; and, if it is the case that they would lose seniority or return at the bottom of their rank, will he consider the advisability of altering these regulations, which constitute a hardship on officers who consented to stand for constituencies believing that they would be 685 seconded for five years in accordance with regulations then in force and lose nothing in the way of seniority or promotion?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)In accordance with paragraph 217 (2) of the King's Regulations 1908 an officer on reabsorption from half pay, on which he is placed as a Member of the House of Commons under the Warrant Issued by Army Order 252 of November, 1906, would be placed at the bottom of the list of his rank. The question is being reconsidered by the Army Council in the light of representations that have been made, but I can give no undertaking that the terms of the Warrant of 1906 will be altered.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill not the maintenance of the warrant deter officers from trying to enter the House of Commons and therefore deprive us of the benefit of their experience?
§ Mr. HALDANEI agree, and I think that is a misfortune. No one wishes less than myself to see officers absent who can give us valuable help. But on the other hand, I have to consider that if an officer is away five or six years from his regiment, it is scarcely right that he should go back suddenly to high command.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the placing of a time limit so that if an officer is away more than a certain time he should then go back to the bottom of his rank?
§ Mr. HALDANEHow can you lay down what the definite time is to be? Is anyone to come to the House of Commons for six or twelve months and then resign his seat?
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIs an officer who is a Member of the House of Commons more out of touch with his regiment than those employed in other capacities, such as military attachés?
§ Mr. HALDANEThose officers are seconded for Army purposes. That is a very different case.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIs it the object of the right hon. Gentleman or the Army Council to do what they can to prevent officers from entering the House of Commons?
§ Mr. HALDANENo, my object is to keep them as closely in touch with their regiments as circumstances permit.
Major WILLOUGHBYWhy are officers who are allowed to go to Colonial Governments, and seconded, allowed to break a good many regulations, while Members of the House of Commons are not?
§ Mr. HALDANEWe cut that down to a minimum. I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that there is no disposition to increase the number who go there, but some have to go.
§ Several other Members took and subscribed the Oath.
§ NEW MEMBER sworn,—Stephen Wilson Furness, esquire, for the Borough of the Hartlepools.