§ 19. Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Secretary of State for War how many applications have been received by his Department for small detachments of soldiers to serve at local pageants in the country; how many of these have been granted and how many refused within the last 12 months; whether he is aware that his Department has refused permission for 50 men of the King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster, to attend the coming Lancaster pageant from the 4th to the 9th of August on the ground that it interferes with recruiting; that the local military authorities were entirely in favour of such suggested participation; and that the fact of such participation would stimulate recruiting, which is much in need of such an impetus at the present time?
§ Mr. SHAWIn the normal course applications for detachments of soldiers to assist at local civilian pageants would be dealt with by the local military authorities, and there is no record at the War Office of the number of applications dealt with by them during the past 12 months. As regards the particular case to which the hon. Member refers, the application was refused not because permission for the troops to take part was likely to interfere with recruiting, but, as I explained in my letter of the 19th June to the hon. Member, because such permission would interfere with the training of the recruits at the Depot.
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the first opportunity on the Adjournment.