§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Her Majesty's Government are willing to assent to such a Motion as that which stood on the Paper on Tuesday 18th instant, praying Her Majesty to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Control Department; and, if not, whether any opportunity will be afforded for a discussion on the subject?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the Question of the hon. and gallant Member has been on the Paper, in one form or another, the whole Session, but has been postponed by the hon. and gallant Member from time to time. On Tuesday last my right hon. and gallant Friend (Sir Henry Storks) and I came down to discuss it, and should have shown what we trusted the House would have considered very good reasons for declining to accede to the proposal. Under these circumstances, I am not prepared, in the present state of Public Business, to apply to my right hon. Friend at the head of the Government to set aside other Business for the purpose of giving another opportunity for bringing on this discussion.
§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTsaid, that Tuesday was the first occasion on which his Notice of Motion for a Royal Commission had been on the Notice Paper. As the right hon. Gentleman's anxiety for 1994 a discussion had not even brought him down in time to help to make a House on Tuesday, and as he now declined to assist him ["Order!"]—
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member is entitled to put a Question to the Secretary of State for War with respect to the answer now given by the right hon. Gentleman; but he is not at liberty to debate the matter.
§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTsaid, he was merely going to add that he would endeavour to find an opportunity for himself, and would therefore put the same Notice on the Notice Paper for to-morrow night on going into Committe of Supply.