§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will inform himself if the appointment of Prince Henry of Battonberg to a Captaincy in the Regiment of the 1st Life Guards is contemplated; and, if so, whether the Prince Henry will be called upon to pass the usual examination; and, whether the rank will be honorary, or he will receive the pay attached to a Regimental Captaincy?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAX)It will be time enough to consider these Questions when any proposal on the subject is brought before mo. I informed my hon. Friend on Friday last, that no proposal on this subject had been submitted to me. No trace of any such proposal exists in the records of the War Office; and I am afraid I can hardly undertake, as he now suggests that I should, to inquire whether this non-existent proposal is, or may have been, contemplated. I am at a loss to know how I should proceed, or where I should stop, if I commenced such inquiries; and I think my hon. Friend will agree that it is better for me to content myself with the consideration of cases when they actually arise. I have, therefore, not considered the points of detail to which the latter part of his Question refers.