§ 46. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that a recent Fleet Order, applying the Order-in-Council of the 25th July to the Royal Navy, prohibits officers and ratings from certain political activities while no inhibition is placed on the political activities of peers who are on the active or half-pay list; and whether he will take steps to remove this differentiation as between peers and commoners?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Fleet Order referred to embodies a general principle applicable alike to the Civil Service, the Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force. This principle relates to the question of the Parliamentary candidature of naval officers and ratings and therefore does not and could not apply to naval officers who are peers of Parliament. These officers, however, equally with all other State servants, have by long tradition been required to abstain from political controversy, and the Clause in the Fleet Order prohibiting political activities applies to all officers alike, whether peers or commoners.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, first, that the right of half-pay officers to stand for Parliament has been in existence for some centuries now, and this right has been taken away by an Order-in-Council without any reference to this House? Secondly, is he aware that an Admiral of the Fleet who is on half-pay and is a peer made a very important speech last week in another place—and I hope he may make many more? How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile this fact with the answer he has just given?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not quite understand the whole of the points raised by the hon. and gallant Member. The Order-in-Council is aimed at officers who may be said to be on active service. The half-pay officer in the Navy, even in the highest ranks, may be said to be on active service. With regard to officers who are peers, that question is being examined, and we shall consider to what extent it is necessary to lay down rules affecting their conduct either in Debate or on the question of voting.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI am sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman, but is he aware that a great many officers have entered this House—the late Lord Beresford was a great ornament to this House—when on half-pay, and that a half-pay officer in the Navy is not on active service, cannot be court-martialled, and has to be put on full pay before he comes on active service at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI remember that Lord Charles Beresford was a Member of this House for many years. That, of course, was some years ago. This question has been considered with all the other Services and the Civil Service, and there are very great difficulties. We admit that with the Navy it may be slightly different in practice, but there are great difficulties in not having common rules among all the Services.
Mr. THOMASDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the passing of the new Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act necessitated a reconsideration of the whole question, and, in view of that legislation, does the Government contemplate having an inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not seized of the point which the right hon. Gentleman has just raised. The matter was under consideration long before that Act was passed.
Mr. THOMASThe Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act interfered with the existing political rights of civil servants, and, in view of that change, does the right hon. Gentleman not think there is a necessity for an inquiry?
Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALLIs there not a difference between the Civil Servant and the Army, Navy or Air Force officer in that there is no half-pay in the Civil Service? May I further ask what form of control the Admiralty or any armed force has over a half-pay officer?
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will refer the point of half-pay officers to the Law Officers of the Crown, that is, to the Solicitor-General, who is not a Member of the Cabinet; and will he bear in mind that the Fleet Order has been carried far beyond the Order-in-Council? The Order-in-Council applies only to candida- 1401 ture for Parliament, whereas the Fleet Order applies to officers on full pay or half-pay taking part in any sort of political activity.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs this question has been raised in different parts of the House, I am quite willing to look into the matter again.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn view of the constitutional principle involved, I beg to give notice that I shall refer to this question on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House to-night.