Civilian Dress

HC Deb 15 November 1955 vol 546 cc192-4

31. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Secretary of State for War what new instructions have been issued to commanding officers concerning the parading of soldiers in civilian dress; and what stipulations have been laid down as to the nature of civilian dress to be worn by Service men off duty.

Mr. Head

Last June a War Office letter drew the attention of commanding officers to their responsibility for ensuring that the plain clothes worn by soldiers should not discredit the Army in the eyes of the public. This instruction did not lay down precise standards and stressed the need to avoid unreasonable prohibitions.

Mr. Yates

Does not the Secretary of State think that it is rather undesirable, as a means of finding out whether soldiers have criminal tendencies, to parade them in civilian dress? Is that not one of the unnecessary parades? Will he not discourage them?

Mr. Head

No, that is not the object of the parades. We leave this to the good sense of commanding officers, but we accept the responsibility for the behaviour of soldiers when they are off duty. In this instance there were not only soldiers who happened to be wearing those clothes but hooligans as well, who were behaving badly locally, and I think that the commanding officer was right to take the step he did.

32. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Service men, and of what ranks, were paraded in civilian dress before Lieutenant-Colonel E. Smith, M.B.E., M.C., at Merebrook Camp, Malvern, on Tuesday, 26th July; how many were found to be wearing dress considered to be offensive; the nature of such dress; and what action was taken.

Mr. Head

One hundred and sixty-three soldiers of the rank of corporal or below were present at this parade. Two were checked for wearing extraordinary clothes. No other action was taken.

Mr. Yates

Does not that make such a parade absolutely ridiculous? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the commanding officer himself suggested that in one case the coat was too long but could be worn with other trousers and that in the other case it was the trousers which were not correct? Is not this an absolutely ridiculous method of judgment?

Mr. Nabarro

Is it not a fact that the inspection of civilian clothes in Army units by commanding or other officers has always been accepted routine, notably in the Brigade of Guards, and that in the present circumstances there is certainly no call for any change in that routine?

Mr. Head

I would point out to the House that below the rank of corporal the wearing of civilian clothes is a privilege given by commanding officers. It would be perfectly easy for us to withdraw the privilege throughout the Army—[Interruption.]—but that is the last thing we want to do. Hon. Members must be reasonable about this. If soldiers get themselves up as clowns and misbehave as hooligans because they are dressed like that, we have to do something about it.