HC Deb 14 June 1883 vol 280 cc541-2
MR. HENEAGE

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he concurs in the view taken by the Army Hospital Services Inquiry Committee in their report with reference to the scope of the inquiry; and, whether, since such limitation of the inquiry is not in accordance with the strongly expressed demand of the House and the Country last October for a thorough and searching inquiry as to the complaints made against the Medical and Hospital Services in Egypt, as well as against those responsible for the supply of Stores and Transport Contracts in connection with the hospitals; what further inquiry he proposes with reference to those officers of high rank who are charged with declining to assume the responsibilities of their position, and to undertake any initiative themselves in order to supply the wants or alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded; also in respect of the responsibility and blame which is stated to rest on Lieut.-General Sir John Adye and Deputy Surgeon General Sir J. Hanbury, for permitting such a state of things to exist in Egypt as that described in Lord Wolseley's evidence without, as is alleged, any attempt on their part to remedy the hospital deficiencies?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The limitation of the scope of the inquiry of which my hon. Friend complains is, I presume, that which is referred to in the 99th paragraph of the Report, in which the Committee state— It is not contemplated in our instructions that we should in any sense perform the functions of a Court of Inquiry into the conduct of individuals. The Committee seem to have taken a just view of their instructions. Those instructions were carefully drawn by my Predecessor, and were read to the House by the Financial Secretary on November 28 last. Under the circumstances, I am not prepared to admit that any limitation has been place on the scope of the inquiry beyond that with which the House was made acquainted. Without in any way accepting the statement of the hon. Member as to charges said to be preferred against gallant officers, I will say that I propose to carefully consider the recommendations made by the Committee with a view to remedying any deficiencies which they have pointed out in hospital arrangements, medical organization, &c.; but I do not contemplate a further inquiry such as that suggested by the hon. Member.