§ 66. Sir B. FALLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can say what the position of Service officers, who are 1469 serving in their own districts and are presidents or chairmen of political associations, will be during an election; if they will be allowed to act in their political capacity without Service restrictions; and if they will be given leave for the period of the election?
§ 68. Mr. GILBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state, in view of a General Election, if soldiers who happen to be home on leave and in khaki during the time of the election, will be allowed to canvass voters in favour of any candidate, or attend and address meetings of any kind in the interest of any candidates, or will they be prohibited under Army Regulations to take part in an election?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe War Cabinet decided some time ago that Regulation 451 should be vigorously enforced. Candidates, however, prospective and adopted, are having special leave facilities granted to them for the election. The same applies to duly accredited agents.
§ Sir B. FALLEDoes that mean that those officers who are chairmen of organisations will not be allowed to act?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNot as chairmen.
§ Mr. GILBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman answer my question as to whether soldiers on leave will be allowed to take any part in the election?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI answered both questions together.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that leave has already been granted to Members of Parliament and other candidates for the next election?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWhat I have said is that I have made arrangements that candidates likely to be adopted in the immediate future will be allowed, if in the United Kingdom or in France, special leave to appear before associations. When a candidate has been adopted he will be allowed eight clear days' leave before the issue of the writ, and in all he will receive about 28 days' leave so as to make arrangements and hear the declaration of the poll.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODDoes that refer to Members of Parliament like the hon. and gallant Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Colonel John Ward) who is in Siberia, and would require more than 28 days' notice to get home?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThat of course is an exceptional case. It is a very difficult problem, and I had to consider exceptional cases, and the general cases. I tried to make a rule which, I understood would be acceptable to the various parties. With regard to the exception mentioned of the hon. and gallant Member for Stoke-on-Trent, I am quite certain that whether he is absent or present he will be elected.
§ Mr. RENDALLDoes the answer mean that no officer at home on leave, who is not a candidate or an agent, may speak at the General Election?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCertainly.
§ Mr. PRINGLEBut does the rule apply to privates as well as to officers?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCertainly.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLWhat length of leave is to be given to agents?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe arrangement which I have sanctioned is as follows—that agents will be given their leave at the same time as candidates, namely, eight clear days before the issue of the writ, and they will be allowed six weeks beyond the declaration of the poll, because I am informed—indeed, I know it to be the case—that a great many matters, monetary and otherwise, have to be cleared up after the election.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot say that. That raises a very difficult question. The question must be faced by my right hon. Friend and colleague the Financial Secretary, whether leave is to be granted with pay or without pay, and that particular side of the question has yet to be considered by the Army Council.