§ Mr. Hammersleyasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his Department's policy when allowing special leave, in order that soldiers in uniform may attend meetings of the Trades Union Congress, to require them to undertake not to make public attacks on the Army's treatment of men in the Forces?
§ Mr. LawWhen special leave is granted to an officer or soldier to attend a meeting of the Trades Union Congress, he will normally wear uniform and he is not debarred from addressing the meeting on the subject of the civil trade which he represents, provided that he does not utilise his position as a soldier to further political ends. For such an officer or soldier to make a public attack on the treatment of men in the Forces is a direct breach of King's Regulations, and any officer or soldier committing such a breach is, of course, rendering himself liable to the appropriate penalty. I am not aware that any undertaking of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind has been required in the past, but my right hon. Friend is considering whether such an undertaking should be required in future.