HC Deb 01 April 1912 vol 36 cc881-2
Sir IVOR HERBERT

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention had been drawn to the protests made by Welsh Nonconformist bodies against the employment of Sundays for the musketry and other instruction of Territorial troops; whether the Bishop of Llandaff, with a deputation representative of the Anglican church in Wales, recently waited upon Lord Haldane to make representations on the same subject; whether he had realised the injury that would be done to the Territorial Force by regulations on the subject of military training on Sundays which were not in accord with the religious feeling of the people of Wales; and would he say whether any action in the matter has been decided upon?

Colonel SEELY

The Secretary of State has received deputations from numerous religious bodies on the subject of Sunday rifle shooting, and has fully explained the present position to them. The Army Council has embarked on no new policy in this matter, but has taken steps to regularise the position and impose certain restrictions on Sunday rifle shooting. Such shooting will now be confined to the courses necessary for military efficiency, and will only be permitted where the quiet of the neighbourhood will not be disturbed. As has already been publicly stated the Army Council have no wish to do any thing to increase a tendency to regard Sunday as other than a day of rest, or to interfere with the general desire in any district to preserve the quiet and peacefulness of Sunday.

Sir IVOR HERBERT

With whom lies the administration of the regulation; is it the War Office, the general officer commanding, or the officer in command of the unit?

Colonel SEELY

All these authorities, must be subject to the ruling which I have just explained to the House.