§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state, with reference to officers giving information to Members of Parliament, which although not necessarily in the interests of the administration may be in the interests of the country, whether any officer discussing Service matters with a Member of Parliament is automatically dismissed from the Service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf the matters and information mentioned by the hon. Member do not come within the purview of the Official Secrets Act, the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and paragraph 453 of the King's Regulations, it does not appear to me that any offence would have been committed. The hon. Member will find the conditions under which an officer may be dismissed from his Majesty's Service by reference to the Army Act and the provisions of paragraph 525 of the Royal Warrant. There is no such thing as automatic dismissal from the Service. I may also point out that any person, not lawfully authorised, is prohibited under No. 18 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations from eliciting naval or military information.