HL Deb 19 March 1964 vol 256 cc953-4
BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My 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 any orders are given to men in the Armed Services to witness boxing contests and, if so, what are the penalties if they refuse.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, I believe that some units—especially boys' or training units—sometimes send organised parties to support their representative teams, which no doubt include boxing teams. In some circumstances a refusal to join such a party might be treated as a breach of discipline. But any person who convinced his commanding officer that he had genuine conscientious objection to watching a boxing contest would be excused.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I have had a number of complaints about this matter. Would the noble Earl not agree that it does not implant the finest qualities in a man to compel him to watch two other men deliberately inflicting pain on each other?

VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN

My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Lady—

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, may we first have an answer from the Minister please?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, if I could just tiptoe back into the discussion, I know the noble Lady's views on this matter, and that they are shared by a number of noble Lords on both sides of the House. But I would suggest to her that there is a great deal of difference between boxing, as run and organised in the Services, which is a clean, healthy activity, conducted under the rules of the Amateur Boxing Association, and professional boxing.

VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN

My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Lady—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS

Order, order!

VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN

My Lords, I should like to ask the Minister whether he would agree that the proper term for boxing is "the noble art of self-defence"? I hope that the time will never come when the boys of this nation will never defend themselves in any rough house".

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think I can agree with both of the propositions that have just been advanced from behind me.

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