HC Deb 23 July 1918 vol 108 cc1622-3
23. Sir JAMES BOYTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there are any special privileges for leave granted to Members of Parliament who hold commissions in the Army?

Mr. MACPHERSON

A Member of Parliament who holds a commission in the Army occupies no privileged position in regard to leave except that he is able to plead the necessity of attending from time to time to Parliamentary duties. As to this, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the late Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Wednesbury on 1st November, 1916.

Sir J. BOYTON

I am not quite clear whether a Member of Parliament is entitled to leave to attend to his business or profession other than his Parliamentary duties. Is he entitled to return for private or business affairs?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The whole question of leave is, of course, under the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in any theatre of war, and if anyone, whether a Member of Parliament or not, puts forward a good case that he should have leave for urgent private affairs, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief is always sympathetic.

Mr. THOMAS

Are we to understand that a private anxious to conduct his own private business is entitled to have special facilities to do it?

Mr. MACPHERSON

It all depends what "his own private business" means. I have said that if a case is put forward by a private or by a Member of Parliament, or any soldier, in which it is a clear case of urgent private affairs in an emergency such a claim is always sympathetically considered.

Mr. THOMAS

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman see what the effect in the country is of special facilities being given to officers which are denied to privates?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have never said that, and I deny that it is true. I think each General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in any theatre of war is most careful in the way he administers leave. After all leave is not a right, but a privilege.

Mr. PRINGLE

Does not the question of giving leave depend on the importance of the duties that the soldier has to perform?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Very likely. That is a consideration which must arise.

Mr. DENMAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman (Sir J. Simon) home on ordinary or special leave?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I cannot answer that question offhand.