§ 13. Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware that the member of the British Nazi Party whose signal started the violence at Leyton Town Hall on Thursday, 7th January, which resulted in police being called in, is a non-commissioned officer stationed at Chelsea Barracks, London; and if he will ensure that public order is not threatened by such recruits.
§ The Deputy-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister of Defence for the Army (Mr. Frederick Mulley)No officer or soldier is permitted to take an active part in the affairs of any political organisation or party. He may, however, attend political meetings so long as he does not take any active part in the proceedings. A soldier has admitted that he took part in the disturbance at Leyton Town Hall on 7th January but I have no evidence that he gave the signal which started the disturbance. He was warned recently by his commanding officer that he must desist from political activities but he ignored this warning and has been discharged from the Army. Public order at meetings is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. FreesonI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Will he give an assurance that this kind of activity will be watched very closely in the Armed Services in future? Is he aware that this is not the first time that there have been reports of this kind, isolated as they may be, and that there is great public concern in public quarters about this kind of activity being spread among members of the Armed Forces?
§ Mr. MulleyIf my hon. Friend has further information, I shall be glad to look at it, but I have not noticed other cases.