HC Deb 07 May 1957 vol 569 cc792-4
31 and 32. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will make a statement concerning the compulsory attendance at a football match ordered by the commanding officer of B Squadron. 7th Royal Tank Regiment, on Saturday, 27th April, 1957;

(2) under what Army regulations weekend passes to soldiers of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment were cancelled and the men marched to a football match and ordered to cheer a particular team.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Hare)

The 7th Royal Tank Regiment took part in the final of the Northern Command football championship on 27th April at Catterick. The match was well supported by soldiers in the regiment, but in one squadron where the response was poor the squadron commander ordered about half his troops to attend. Sixty-five men were involved out of a regimental strength of approximately 1,000. They were free to leave camp at 4.30 p.m. after the game. No week-end passes were cancelled and nobody was ordered to cheer.

Mr. Jones

Is the Secretary of State aware that these men were ordered to parade and were marched to the football ground because they refused to attend voluntarily? Is it not the case that they were threatened with the withdrawal of their week-end passes unless they went? Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that this kind of treatment by responsible military officers is likely to help his recruiting campaign to get a voluntary army?

Mr. Hare

I am not aware of the first two allegations made by the hon. Member, but I will certainly look into them. This was an isolated incident, and I do not think there is any question about the general liberty enjoyed by our troops at the week-end.

Mr. Strachey

Will not the right hon. Gentleman express his opinion that there surely was a mistake which should not be repeated?

Mr. Hare

I hesitate to do this. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, we must allow discretion to commanding officers. [Interruption.] If discretion is given to people, it is rather pointless to censure them for using it.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Secretary of State really saying that he is in favour of compulsory attendance at sporting events?

Mr. Hare

I did not say anything of the sort.

Mr. Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman now saying that there was no authority for the withdrawal of these week-end passes? Is he saying that the commanding officer exceeded his duty by withdrawing these passes? If so, will he take the necessary disciplinary action?

Mr. Hare

I said I would look into that. I have not had that information and from the evidence which I have had I do not believe that it is correct.

34. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will abolish the compulsory attendance of troops at service sporting events.

Mr. John Hare

Attendance at sporting events outside duty hours is not normally compulsory. Commanding officers have discretion in matters of this kind, but it is the policy of the Army Council that the freedom of troops after working hours should not be unduly re-tricted.

Mr. Cherwynd

In the instance quoted by my hon. Friend the Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones), when a commanding officer behaves with stupidity in a matter like this, is it not the duty of the Secretary of State to make sure that these things do not happen? Is not the only way to ensure that they do not happen to abolish compulsory attendance, which is quite ludicrous?

Mr. Hare

I have answered this question earlier. I still think that commanding officers should be allowed discretion; and if they are given discretion, we cannot censure them for using it.

Mr. Strachey

Will not the Secretary of State express his view for the guidance of commanding officers in future? It is a very small matter, but these things affect recruiting and are important in that respect. If the right hon. Gentleman expresses a view, it would be no censure and he would be doing something useful.

Mr. Hare

I have already covered the point.