§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will introduce a Clause in the Regimental Exchanges Bill to provide for the regulations which may from time to time he issued regarding exchanges from one regiment or corps to another regiment or corps being annually laid before Parliament; also a nominal roll of all officers permitted to exchange, with their rank, corps, and duties, and grounds on which the exchanges have been authorized?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, the Queen's Regulations referred to by the hon. and gallant Member were perfectly accessible to all the world. Therefore, there was not the slightest necessity for laying them on the Table of the House. With regard to the nominal roll of officers permitted to exchange, it had never been the custom to lay it before the House, and it was not his intention on the present occasion to vary the custom.
§ MR. O'REILLYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, if the Army Exchanges Bill becomes law, he intends to sanction exchanges between officers in cases in which payments for this purpose shall have been made by an officer junior to one of the officers exchanging; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to prevent such payments being made?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, it was a little inconvenient to be asked Questions which to some extent involved argument. He did not altogether admit that what the hon. Member supposed to have occurred in times past would occur hereafter. The responsibility of making regulations for the exchanges, in case the Bill passed, would rest with the War Office, and they would be so framed as in every possible way to prevent anything in the shape of purchase. If this object was not attained, it would be competent for any hon. Member to call the attention of the House to the subject with a view to remedy.