§ 5. Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the advantage of the use of intoxicating drink in the Army is found to outweigh the value of the human food destroyed for its production, in addition to the 60 per cent, of the offences dealt with by the military authorities attributed to drink; whether most of the venereal disease in the Army is also due to this habit; and, seeing that there have been good soldiers who used 5 no intoxicants, whether the use of intoxicants in the Army will be discontinued?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo intoxicating drink is issued to the Army except on the recommendation of medical officers. If, however, the hon. Gentleman refers to canteens, I consider that they are a safeguard against drunkenness, as they provide good light beer under regulated conditions as an alternative to unregulated drinking outside the canteen. I must not be taken as accepting the hon. Gentleman's suggestion as to the percentage of military offences due to drink. The answers to the second and third parts of the question are in the negative.