§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, of the seven Departments of the Army, six have a representative at the War Office; and, whether the only Department without such a representative is the Army Pay Department; and, if so, what is the reason for treating this particular Department differently to all the rest of the Army?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONYes, Sir; the Army Pay Department is the only Department of the Army without a representative at the War Office. The reason is, that all the Departments, except the Pay Department, have executive duties to perform connected with the administration of their Departments, such as the supply and medical services of the Army. No such duties connected with finance at headquarters can be delegated to an officer of the Pay De- 591 partment. The only work which could be intrusted to him would be that connected with the posting and appointment of officers, and this would not be sufficient to warrant the employment of such an officer.