HC Deb 06 April 1910 vol 16 cc564-5W
Mr. AUGUSTINE ROCHE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the officer commanding the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Cork so interferes in matters of conscience with men under his command as to prevent them from deciding for themselves whether they shall belong to one religion or another; and whether, seeing that such matters being entirely for a man's own conscience, should be left to a man's own discretion, instructions will be given to this officer that in future he must not interfere with or punish in any way men when they make a choice of religion for themselves?

Mr. HALDANE

The hon. Member is apparently alluding to a case which occurred last year, and was settled by the Army Council. Nothing is known of the subsequent occurrence of any similar case in this regiment, and it is not considered necessary to issue any instructions on this matter.