40. Colonel BURNasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the immediate release of those chaplains of the Church of Scotland who are at present serving in the Army in capacities other than as ministers of religion?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer to the answers given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Midlothian and Peebles on Monday last, and to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Rollox yesterday, to the effect that they will be released if they are eligible for demobilisation under existing Regulations.
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the proportion of clergymen of the Church of Scotland serving in combatant ranks is very much larger than that of clergymen of the Church of England, and that therefore the pressure upon the Church of Scotland is so much greater?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is so. It is a point of substance that should be considered. I do not, however, wish to make 378 exceptions at the present time, as we are enforcing new rules and new standards of universal evenness over the whole Army.