§ 44. Mr. Kendallasked the Secretary of State for War if he will take immediate steps to bring about the cancellation of the military rule that spirits, such as whisky, etc., may not be sold to any member of the Armed Forces below the rank of sergeant, in view of the feeling existing amongst the troops in Normandy and elsewhere that such a rule is in the nature of class distinction, interferes with their personal freedom in this respect, and is needless, seeing that such sales would be governed by a soldier's ability to purchase these spirits.
§ Sir J. GriggThe regulation, with which the hon. Member is, I think, familiar, prohibits the sale of spirits for consumption in canteens and restricts the sale for consumption elsewhere to officers and officers' and sergeants' messes. The regulation is necessary in the interests of discipline, and I regret that I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion.