HL Deb 09 April 1936 vol 100 cc588-90

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL)

My Lords, there are no changes of far-reaching importance in this Bill this year, and I understand that it is the wish of your Lordships that I should not detain you any longer on this occasion. I beg, therefore, to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.)

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend one question on Clause 5? The Memorandum says that Section 146 of the Army Act provides that regular officers on the active list shall not be eligible for certain appointments. Then it says that the new clause: proposes to remove these anomalies by repealing the relevant part of Section 146. The position of officers and soldiers in regard to candidature for local government councils will then fall to be dealt with by departmental regulation. I should like to know exactly what that means, because it is a little obscure from the Memorandum.

LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL

This question was dealt with very fully elsewhere. The clause was, I believe, introduced into the Army Act this year to meet an objection that had been raised beforehand: that there was differentiation between officers and men in this respect. This is now an agreed Amendment, and will therefore, I understand, meet any criticisms that were raised on this issue.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

I beg my noble friend's pardon; he has not answered my question. The whole matter is to be dealt with "by departmental regulation "?

LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL

That, I take it, means that all questions are to be decided on their merits by the Army Council.

On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.