§ 77. Mr. ROWNTREEasked the Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to a case which came before the York magistrates in December, 1913, when a bastardy order was made against a sergeant, and to the fact that, although the sergeant was in England when the case was tried and his solicitor did not 933 deny the paternity, yet the War Office authorities decline to order that the amount shall be deducted from his pay on the ground that the sergeant was under orders for service beyond the seas; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to amend the Regulations of the Army Act so that such action will be impossible in future?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo official report has been made to the War Office on this case. In the circumstances described, the War Office have no power to stop the soldier's pay. This particular case will be further investigated, and the general question referred to in the last paragraph of my hon. Friend's question will receive careful consideration.