§ 4. Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any appeal possible on the part of a naturalised British subject of many years' standing from the decision of the military, especially in cases where such subject has never had any opportunity of meeting the alleged reasons for the treatment meted out to him?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere is no appeal from an order made by a competent military authority under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Before issuing his 178 order a competent military authority would give attention to all relevant facts brought to his notice.
§ Mr. HOGGEMight I ask my right hon. Friend if the War Office acts on the principle that a man in this position, who has been treated by the War Office in a certain way, is not entitled to lay before them his side of the case?
§ Mr. TENNANTHis side of the case would be placed before the competent military authority before any order was given, but after the order was given, then, as my hon. Friend is aware, there would be no appeal under the Act.
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I ask whether in those cases, or in any case, the man or the woman concerned is allowed to appear in person before the military authority?
§ Mr. TENNANTI should say not, speaking without full inquiry.
§ Mr. TENNANTIf my hon. Friend will give me notice, I will have that point inquired into.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the House precisely what he has meant upon the two occasions on which he has used the word "competent"—does it mean military rank or judicial knowledge?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the Act of Parliament he will see that the whole of its provisions are governed by the appeal to the competent military authority, which is the body responsible for putting the regulations into-force.