HC Deb 04 August 1890 vol 347 cc1761-3
MR. JAMES ROWLANDS

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Mr. Bernard Dunn was the first person who called the attention of the Government to the fact that bad articles and materials were being passed into Woolwich Arsenal; whether Colonel Barrington reported that Mr. Dunn was misinformed; since then the Judge Advocate General has reported that Mr. Dunn's allegations were well founded, and that it was unfortunate that the higher officials did not take more notice of them when they were first made; whether Mr. Dunn frequently complained that he was being unjustly treated by the officials; and has any inquiry been made into his charges against the officials; if so, by whom, and when; if not, considering the services Mr. Dunn has rendered, whether he will cause an impartial inquiry to be made into the charges made by Mr. Dunn against the officials in the Department in which he was employed, and from which he has been discharged?

* MR. E. STANHOPE

As I have already stated in this House, Mr. Moody was the principal complainant as to the bad material passed into the Arsenal; but he was supported by Mr. Dunn. The second and third paragraphs of the hon. Member's question appear to be a correct statement of facts. Mr. Dunn's complaints have been most fully inquired into, as I have more than once informed the House. Mr. Dunn has now been discharged for insubordinate c induct, and I cannot undertake to make further inquiries into his case.

MR. A. O'CONNOR

May I ask whether it has not been well understood at Woolwich that Dunn is a marked man?

* MR. E. STANHOPE

I am quite sure that is not the case.

MR. A. O'CONNOR

I put it to the Secretary of State whether of his own knowledge, months ago, a Member of the Government did not intimate his own opinion that Dunn ought to be "sacked"?

* MR. E. STANHOPE

I am not aware who the Member of the Government alluded to is.

MR. HANBURY (Preston)

Since the Secretary of State has punished Dunn so severely, will he also inquire into the case of those men against whom Dunn brought and proved the charge that they had introduced bad material into Her Majesty's Services.

* MR. E. STANHOPE

I have made such inquiry, as I have told the House several times already.

MR. HANBURY

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what he has done?

* MR. E. STANHOPE

I troubled the House with a speech of nearly an hour's length on this subject last Session, and explained what I had done.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

I wish to know whether Dunn has not made an allegation, supported by evidence, to the Secretary of State for War since the inquiry presided over by the Judge Advocate, as to whether he wishes for further inquiry?

* MR. E. STANHOPE

It is true Dunn did supply me with additional evidence. Upon this I had caused to be made a most careful and independent inquiry, which proved beyond any doubt that the complaint was entirely unfounded.