HC Deb 09 December 1952 vol 509 cc225-7
51 Mr. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if his attention has been drawn to the orders issued by Colonel G. O. Thompson. Commandant of No. 1 Engineer Stores Depot, Long Marston, concerning the compulsory contribution by officers and other Tanks to a voluntary fund; whether he will state, in detail, the nature of these orders; and whether they were made with his knowledge, consent and approval;

(2) for what purpose a fund was established by the officer commanding No. 1 Engineers Stores Depot, Long Marston; in what manner and by what means this fund was established; how much was collected; what action has, or will be, taken against those refusing to contribute; and how many were in the latter category;

(3) if his attention has been drawn to the statement officially made by Colonel G. O. Thompson, officer commanding No. 1 Engineers Stores Depot, Long Marston, that no one has the right to inquire into the reasons for an Army order; and whether this statement was made with his approval.

55. Mr. Llewellyn

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Part I orders issued by a unit, particulars of which have been sent him, prescribed a sliding scale of donations for all ranks payable to a national fund; that those who did not wish to contribute were required to inform their commanding officer of the reason; whether he will ensure that all donations thus raised will be returned; and whether he will issue an Army Council Instruction prohibiting the use of Part I orders for the raising of funds in this way for any charity however deserving.

69. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to a recent order issued by the Colonel Commanding No. 1 Engineers Stores Depot at Long Marston. whereby officers and men were informed that a deduction according to rank would be made from their pay, towards the King George VI Memorial Fund; and whether the notice is in accordance with orders which he has approved.

Mr. Head

An Army Council Instruction was issued drawing attention to this appeal, and it was made clear that all contributions were to be on a voluntary basis. The orders of the Commander of No. 1 Engineers Stores Depot were not in accord with the instructions issued by the War Office. In practice the order was not enforced, and the total actually subscribed amounted to considerably less than the prescribed scale. Colonel Thompjson denies that he ever made the statement attributed to him in Question No. 53.

Mr. Lewis

Has the attention of the Secretary of State been drawn to the "Birmingham Gazette" of Saturday, 29th November, in which the colonel is interviewed by a reporter and is in quotes as having said that no one can query an Army order? His actual statement is in quotes, which lays down the scale which officers and other ranks must contribute unless they give reasons for their non-contribution to the commanding officer. In view of the fact that he is quoted, does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that this matter should be further investigated to see whether or not the officer did or did not issue those instructions?

Mr. Head

This matter has been investigated, and we have been in touch with Colonel Thompson. I do not think that necessarily quotes in a newspaper can be taken as an absolutely Grade A source by the War Office.

Hon. Members

Investigate it.

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be no repetition of this conduct by any commanding officer, and would he, for the information of other ranks, tell the House what other ranks should say when they go to see their commanding officer in the circumstances outlined in this Question?

Mr. Head

I think that anybody who gave an assurance that human nature will never repeat itself is very unwise.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Without in any way giving support to this procedure, would my right hon. Friend say whether it is a fair comparison to say that it is contracting out of a voluntary contribution?

Mr. Chapman

What action has the right hon. Gentleman taken against this officer for posting the order in the first place?

Mr. Head

I am in touch with this officer.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Macmillan.

Mr. Lewis

On a point of order. I have three Questions on this subject, Mr. Speaker, and at the moment I have asked only one supplementary. May I ask for your permission, in view of that, to ask another?

Mr. Speaker

No. I think the hon. Member asked a very long supplementary.