HC Deb 02 May 1957 vol 569 c434

Motion made, and Question proposed,That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. Steele

I should like to ask a question. The Clause states: Every officer subject to this Act who is guilty of cruelty, or of any scandalous, fraudulent or other conduct unbecoming the character of an officer shall be liable to dismissal… In the Army Act, about which we had a great deal of discussion, the wording unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman was used. The Army insisted on those words. The Admiralty, apparently, does not wish to have them. Is it because there are no gentlemen in the Navy?

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith

I think that this is a deliberate attempt by the hon. Member to get the Government into difficulties either with the Army or with the Navy, because almost anything I say will be construed by one side or the other. The wording which the hon. Member suggested is irrelevant. Everybody knows what an officer is. Because of his privileged position, a very high standard of conduct is required of him and is always, or nearly always, obtained. It is, therefore, unnecessary to qualify the word "officer" in any way.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.