HC Deb 22 February 1944 vol 397 c642
31. Mr. Huģh Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the issue of an Army Council Instruction or War Office letter embodying the circumstances in which a serving soldier or officer may be granted leave of absence from duty to appear before a committee for the selection of a candidate or prospective candidate for a Parliamentary election.

Sir J. Griģģ

Commanding officers have sufficiently wide powers, in the matter of granting leave for private reasons, to cover leave for such attendance and I see no reason for issuing special instructions. The question whether, in a given case, an individual can be granted leave for the purpose depends on where he is stationed and the exigencies of the service at the time. Subject to these considerations, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 8th February, there is no reason why an officer or other rank should be refused leave to appear before a selection committee.

Mr. Lawson

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman gave the House an assurance that he wanted to make it specially easy for soldiers and officers to be granted leave for the purpose of appearing before a selection board, does he not think that it would be a very good idea to publish some sort of instruction? If he does not, there is absolutely nothing to indicate to commanding officers that that is his wish.

Sir J. Griģģ

I have nothing to add to the answer I have already given.

Mr. Gallacher

Would the Minister issue an instruction to soldiers given leave for the purposes of contesting an election that they should know a little about politics?

Sir J. Griģģ

That does not arise.