§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the result of the inquiry into the causes of the recent act of insubordination in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPENo, Sir; in the interest of the Service I must decline to make public the result of the inquiry which has been held.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLIs there any statement in the finding of the Court with respect to the allegation that these men have for the last three months been subjected to excessive and oppressive duties?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEFrom the answer I have already given, the hon. Member will see that I cannot say more.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLIs there not a long series of precedents justifying such questions as that which stands in my name on the Paper?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)What particular officer is responsible for the fact that so important an event as that referred to in the hon. Member's question had not been brought to the notice of the Minister for War at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEAs I have already explained, the Military Authorities were inquiring into the matter during the day. I was busily engaged myself, and so they did not inform me of the circumstances before I was obliged to come down to the House.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMIs it true that the Grenadier Guards are to be ordered on foreign service?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEI have no answer whatever to give on that subject.