§ 15. Mr. BRIANTasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that soldiers serving in the Guards are employed at a London theatre: how many hours are they so employed for evening and matinee performances; how many hours and for how many days were they engaged in rehearsals; and if, considering the number of unemployed ex-service men who belong to the theatrical profession, he will make inquiry into the whole question of the employment of soldiers in other capacities?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have no information regarding the first three parts of the question. As regards the last part, no soldier is excused any part of his military duty on the grounds of a private engagement of the kind referred to, and I see no reason for inter fering with the use that individual soldiers may make of their spare time.
§ Mr. BRIANTWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that he has no information, are we to understand that he has not tried to obtain any information on the subject? Has the right hon. Gentle- 200 man tried to obtain any information; has he inquired whether it is a fact that a certain number of guardsmen have been employed for long hours at rehearsals; and, if so, does not that interfere with their obligations to the Army?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSAs I understand, soldiers are not permitted to have private engagements which interfere with their military duties, but, subject to that, I do not make inquiries, and it would be impossible to interrogate each individual soldier as to how he spends his spare time.
§ Mr. BRIANTSeeing that at any rate there is some indication of employment which might interfere with their duties as soldiers, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is worth while to make inquiries?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe commanding officer would prevent any soldier from doing anything which interfered with his military duties.
Mr. BECKETTAre we to understand that it is possible for soldiers to be on the stage every night during a long London run without interfering with their professional duties?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThat I cannot tell, but there is no reason why they should not use their spare time on the stage.
§ Mr. SIDNEY WEBBAre we to understand that there has been no inquiry into this matter; and is it possible for a man to be employed in this way without the commanding officer knowing of it.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSo long as it does not interfere with his military duties, I am not inquiring, nor would the commanding officer inquire, how a man spends his spare time.
§ Mr. WEBBThe right hon. Gentleman has not replied to the latter part of my question. May I ask whether the commanding officer arranged this, or whether any application was made to him to arrange it?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThat I could not say without notice.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI will.
§ Mr. HAYESMay we now understand that soldiers in their spare time may be engaged in any private capacity in the way of employment?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI would not say that, but only so long as it, does not interfere with their military duties.
§ Mr. HAYESis it necessary to obtain the approval of the commanding officer before a man may be so employed?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, I think not.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIs it the case that, for long periods some 50 guardsmen were engaged on the stage at a London theatre; and, seeing that this work might be done by ex-service men who are now out of work, will not the right hon. Gentleman regard himself as having an obligation towards them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is hardly a matter that arises out of the question on the Paper.