§ 2.41 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the Armed Forces are permitted to be members of political Parties and to receive on their request papers of a political nature provided that they abstain from public political activities and restrict such papers to their personal use; and 1004 whether they will confirm that such interests are no impediment to promotion in the Forces.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, members of the Armed Forces are permitted to be members of political Parties, and to receive papers of a political nature so long as they do not, while serving, stand for Parliament or otherwise actively participate in the affairs of any political organisation or Party. Political interests within these limits are no impediment to promotion, unless they are such as to bring loyalty to the Crown or the proper performance of duty into question.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. May I ask whether the noble Lord will consider giving that reply the widest possible circulation? Because I understand that there is some uncertainty among Servicemen in view of a recent court case.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I think that that purpose will have been served by the noble Lord's Question this afternoon.