§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for War the considerations which have influenced him in deciding that a Home Guard officer must be regarded as a private soldier in respect of medical treatment and travelling facilities while continuing to impose on him all the responsibilities of an officer?
§ Sir J. GriggThe reasons for maintaining the present policy have been repeatedly stated. From the inception of the Home Guard it has been an essential principle that all ranks should be treated alike in matters such as these, and men of all classes have joined the Home Guard in great numbers on this understanding. When it was decided that Home Guard officers should receive His Majesty's Commission, it was made very clear that this would in no way affect the principle of equality of treatment in these matters. To introduce special privileges for certain members of the Home Guard in respect of class of travel and medical treatment would amount to the abrogation of this principle and would change the whole character of the force.
§ Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has concluded his inquiries respecting a case at Wood-borough, Nottinghamshire, where it is alleged that in the course of military exercise a private of the Home Guard was hit with a revolver by an officer of the opposing forces; whether any disciplinary action has been taken; and whether the private will be given compensation seeing that he was invalided for nearly four weeks?
§ Sir J. GriggInvestigation has not been able to show conclusively what happened in this case but it is likely that the blame was more evenly divided between the officer and the man than was at first suggested. The officer has, however, been censured. Authority has been given for compensation to be paid to the man.