§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Secretary of State for War, under whose authority a large firm of whiskey distillers is permitted to depict celebrated regiments in the British Army marching past a large bottle of whiskey, thereby using His Majesty's uniform as an advertisement for commercial profit; if he can state the percentage of ex-service men employed by this firm; and whether he will take steps to prevent pictures of soldiers in uniform being used in this way?
Mr. COOPERNo question of authority or permission appears to arise in connection with these advertisements. Such use of military figures is not uncommon and constitutes no infringement of the law, and while I think the practice is to be deprecated I do not think action is called for unless the Army is brought into contempt. I have no information regarding the staff employed by the firm which I think my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.