§ 11. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements in connection with the General Election will be made for Territorials in camp?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSTerritorials who are registered as Parliamentary electors and are absent at annual training in camp will be able either to record their vote as absent voters or to obtain leave and vote in person. Those who wish to vote as absent voters will be required to send in their applications on the appropriate form to the Registration Officer as indicated in the Instructions about to be issued. A stock of the appropriate form will be available at the headquarters of those units which are due to be in camp on polling day, and instructions will be issued that all ranks are to be given the 692 opportunity of obtaining this form and filling it in before going to camp. Posters will be displayed in the drill-halls of the units concerned calling attention to these arrangements. Territorials who have been put on the absent voters list under this procedure will receive their ballot papers in camp and post them to the returning officer in the usual way. Territorials who wish to vote in person will be granted leave for the purpose as laid down in paragraph 245 of the Regulations for the Territorial Army.
As regards activities prior to polling day, as permission cannot be granted for speakers or canvassers to visit the camps or for Territorial officers and other ranks in camp to institute or take part in demonstrations for party or political purposes, arrangements will be made for the grant of leave from camp to those Territorials who so desire it from 27th May until after the election. Such leave, as well as leave granted to enable a Territorial to record his vote, will count as days in camp for the purpose of pay and allowances, bounty proficiency grant and the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
Territorials who are granted leave either to vote or for the period prior to polling day and do not return to camp will be given free conveyance as if they had returned from camp at the normal end of the training, provided they have completed eight days in camp.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI take it that there is no longer any camp censorship of letters?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, certainly not.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThere used to be.
§ Mr. CLYNESAs there has been no previous official announcement of the date of the Election, may we take it that it is the date mentioned in the right hon. Gentleman's reply?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe right hon. Gentleman did not observe my caution. I said "from the 27th May until after the Election." I mentioned no date.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman say the maximum amount of leave which is to be granted from the 27th May?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, Sir; I said "from the 27th May until after the Election," and until the date of the Election is fixed I cannot answer the hon. Gentleman.
§ Major MacANDREWAre Territorials who are taking part in the Election permitted to wear their uniforms?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThere is nothing to prevent them going to the poll in uniform, but I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Regulations with regard to wearing uniforms at meetings and so forth.
§ Mr. STEPHENCan the right hon. Gentleman say why speakers from the various parties should not be allowed to address the soldiers?
§ Mr. TAYLORUnder what paragraph of the King's Regulations does the right hon. Gentleman forbid meetings at Territorial camps?
Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANISI cannot without notice give the number of the Regulation, but the hon. Gentleman will find that it is so.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDMay we assume that, in the interests of strict neutrality as between the various parties, the right hon. Gentleman himself will refrain from visiting these camps?
Dr. VERNON DAVIESIf a Territorial who leaves camp to record his vote returns to camp, will he be granted a free pass?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, he cannot have it both ways. He can have a free pass home once, but not twice.