§ 75. Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider how a fine of £2,imposed on a serving soldier while acting as chauffeur to an officer, ought to be met in the best interests of the soldier and the Service; whether he will consider issuing instructions for setting up a regimental insurance fund to meet such incidents or otherwise to ease the burden from the shoulders of a soldier receiving 6s. per week; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ Mr. StanleyA soldier acting as a chauffeur who commits a breach of the Road Traffic Act or other civil offence is liable to penalty in a civil court equally with any other person, and I see no justification for a regimental insurance fund. It is the practice to pay fines on the 456 soldier's behalf and to recover the amount from him by instalments.
§ Mr. GibsonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that a serving soldier acting in a case of this sort is in quite a different position, so far as ability to pay, from that in which he would be if he were a civilian?
§ Mr. StanleyI cannot agree that he is in a different position, because the law applies to him as a soldier equally as it does to a civilian and he has to obey the law in just the same way.
§ Miss WilkinsonIs it not a fact that if a serving soldier disobeys an order of an officer, that is under military law? What is a man to do if an officer orders him to disobey the civil law?
§ Mr. StanleyThat is a hypothetical case. If an officer gave a man an order to disobey the civil code it would be a grave disciplinary offence on the part of the officer and would certainly have to be punished.