§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether Section 145 (2) (b) of the Army Act extends to the case of the wife of a soldier who married without leave; whether, if it does not so extend, he will include in the next Army (Annual) Bill a provision so extending it; and whether he will propose to amend that paragraph by 222W substituting sixteen years of age for fourteen years of age?
§ Colonel SEELYThis Section of the Army Act applies to those married with or without leave alike. As regards the last part of the question, Sub-section 2 (a) covers all cases in which liability can be brought home to a civilian and the limitation of age is the same in respect of the children, whether legitimate or illegitimate, of a soldier as in respect of those of a civilian. Sub-section 2 (b) imposes on a soldier an additional liability with respect to his legitimate children to which a civilian is not subject. The proposal in the last part of the question shall be carefully considered.