HC Deb 13 September 1886 vol 309 cc175-6
MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether his attention has been called to a statement by Colonel Hope, in a letter published in The Times of 9th September— That the Attorney General has been deceived and misled by some one presumably in the incriminated Department; and, whether he is able to give any explanation of the matter?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to my letter which appeared in The Times of Friday, the 10th, in reply to that of Colonel Hope of the 9th instant, and I can give no explanation of the matter, except to repeat that there is not the slightest foundation for the statement from Colonel Hope's letter quoted in the Question of the hon. and gallant Member.

MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

asked the Secretary of State for War the following Question, which stood on the Paper in the name of Captain Selwyn:—Whether his attention has been called to a letter from Colonel Hope, V.O., in The Times of 9th September; and, whether it is a fact, as stated in that letter by Colonel Hope— That he made charges in the statement that he submitted to the Secretary of State for War, and that in some cases he gave names, dates, and full details?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

Does the hon. Gentleman ask the Question at the request of the hon. and gallant Member?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

No, Sir.

MR. W. H. SMITH

I do not know what the practice of the House is; but I am quite in the hands of the House.

MR. SPEAKER

It is quite unusual, according to the practice of the House, in the absence and without the sanction of the hon. and gallant Member, to put the Question.