MR. BOARD (Greenwich)asked the Secretary of State for War, What in- 1800 structions have been given to the accountants appointed to investigate and report upon the accounts of the Army Manufacturing Departments, and what is the estimated cost of the investigation; and, whether one of the accountants selected to report upon, the correctness of the War Office system has been actively engaged in getting up the case against the War Office officials before the Select Committee on Army and Navy Estimates?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastte)My hon. Friend will find a copy of the instructions given to the accountants in the Fifth Report of the Committee on Army and Navy Estimates. I have made inquiries from the Secretary to the Treasury as to the estimated cost of the investigation, and I find that he is not yet able to give me such an Estimate as can be laid before the House. I believe it is true that one of these accountants has been assisting my noble Friend the Member for South Paddington (Lord Randolph Churchill) in preparing for the work of investigating the accounts of the Army Manufacturing Departments. But he has now been selected by the President of the Society of Chartered Accountants to discharge a most responsible public duty; and I have no reason to doubt, from his high general reputation, that he will perform it with impartiality.