§ 20. Mr. Hugh Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Air, if he is aware that at an R.A.F. station, of which he has been informed, personnel of the W.A.A.F. have been detailed to attend church parades and that such compulsory attendance at church is resented by those detailed and, in particular, by those who profess belief in the Christian religion; and if he will take steps to ensure, while providing every opportunity and encouragement to R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. personnel who wish to do so to attend public worship, that the practice of detailing personnel for such attendance is stopped.
§ Captain BalfourI have no information which suggests that the detailing of W.A.A.F. personnel to attend church parades at the Station referred to has had the result indicated by the hon. Member. Orders based on King's Regulations require all ranks of R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. personnel not on duty to attend the Sunday services of their denomination and. I see no reason to depart from this requirement which is common to all three Services.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the practice of detailing personnel for church parade does great harm, not only to the discipline of the Service, but to the Christian religion?
§ Captain BalfourThe hon. Gentleman is now raising the whole question of church parades. He asked me a specific Question. I am not prepared to argue the general issue and, if I did, I should disagree with him.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that compulsory religion tends to become a hypocrisy?
Miss RathboneAre these arrangements for the W.A.A.F. strictly analogous to those obtaining for male personnel of the Air Force of corresponding rank?
§ Captain BalfourYes, Sir.