§ Mr. OUTHWAITE(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. Albert Taylor, Parliamentary candidate for the Rossendale Division, at the present by-election, was arrested on 30th January, four days after final adoption, at the instance of Lieutenant Monks, the Recruiting Officer for Rossendale District; and is he aware that Lieutenant Monks has been given leave of absence from his military duties and is now acting as election agent for the other candidate, and will he take immediate steps to remove the impression that Lieutenant Monks has been permitted to make use of Ms military office for political ends?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Ian Macpherson)With regard to the first part of the question, I have no official information as to the circumstances of the arrest of Mr. Albert Taylor, but an arrest for absence under the Military Service Act would be a proper arrest. With regard to the second part of the question, I know that applications have been made at the War Office for the services of Lieutenant Monks in a political capacity during this election, but we did not see our way to relieve him of his military duties.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not a fact that he is now acting as election agent, and is he doing so, therefore, in contravention of the decision of the War Office?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll that I know is that I can give the House honestly and conclusively the information which I have given.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIf Lieutenant Monks is now acting as election agent, 90 will the War Office authorities take action against him immediately?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy information is that Lieutenant Monks is not acting as election agent.