HC Deb 20 March 1956 vol 550 cc988-9
27. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the practice of scraping broom handles with razor blades at Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill, to whiten them for the commanding officer's inspection, has now been abandoned.

Mr. F. Maclean

Yes, Sir. Broom handles need to be kept clean, but this method, which has never been general, is not a practical one and has been stopped.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

While I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, which makes it unnecessary for me to ask him to consult any housewife as to how to keep a broom handle clean with a wet cloth, may we have an assurance at least that the million gallons of paint now held by the War Department will never be used to paint these broom handles red, white and blue?

Sir T. Moore

Is my hon. Friend aware that he has elicited most valuable information in regard to the disposal of old razor blades?

Mr. Shinwell

What happens to the officer or N.C.O. who instructs men to undertake tasks of this kind?

Mr. Maclean

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the opportunity he has given me of clearing up a misunderstanding which may have arisen from an answer I gave yesterday. On consulting HANSARD, I find that the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones) asked whether, if he drew my attention to cases of this kind, disciplinary action would be taken against the officers concerned. My impression was that he simply asked whether I would investigate and take action in the cases concerned. The reason why I misheard the hon. Member was the bellowing that invariably accompanies any question on this subject. In fact no disciplinary action will be taken except where it is justified by direct refusal to obey an order. In this case such a suggestion is nonsense. It was simply an error of judgment.

Mr. Shinwell

Do we understand, then, that disciplinary action is taken when a private or other soldier refuses to obey an order of this kind but that there is no disciplinary action as regards the person who gives such a foolish order?

Mr. Maclean

No, Sir. The position is that the general principle is laid down and it is left to the discretion of commanding officers and others to carry out that general policy. If they make errors of judgment, their attention is drawn to them. In this case it simply shows a little over-enthusiasm on the part of non-commissioned officers.