§ Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the returning officer for the Rossen-dale by-election has declared Lieutenant Monkes to be the election agent for one of the candidates; and can he say whether he has taken any action in the matter, in view of the fact that the War Office had refused to permit Lieutenant Monkes to neglect his military duties in order to act as a political party agent?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSince the hon. Member put his question on Thursday we communicated by telegram with the local command. It is now reported that Lieutenant Monkes applied for leave on private affairs. When it was brought to the notice of the War Office that Lieutenant Monkes was acting as election agent for a Parliamentary candidate his leave was immediately cancelled and he was recalled to his military duties on the 9th inst.