§ MR. ANDERSONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it be true, as stated in one of the military newspapers, that the vacant political 769 office of Judge Advocate General is about to be re-filled; and whether he will not delay doing so till the House can decide by Select Committee or otherwise whether that office is not sinecure and unnecessary?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the office of Judge Advocate General is not vacant; it is held by the Judge of the Court of Admiralty. The political office is vacant, since it is inseparable from the judicial office, and no provision is made for the discharge of the Parliamentary duties of the office. The question of the discharge of those duties will have to be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War; but I am not sure whether it will not be wise to postpone any action in the matter until the House can inquire into it. Of course we shall proceed to fill up the office on our responsibility in case we find any inconvenience arising from the continuance of the present arrangement.