HC Deb 01 April 1892 vol 3 c471
MR. MAC NEILL

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is meant by the expression "good moral character," a certificate of which signed by tutors or heads of colleges must, under the regulations prevailing at Woolwich and Sandhurst, be produced by candidates for further examination for the Army; whether he is aware that Lieutenant Colonel Begbie, R.E., has brought an action against Mr. Lascelles, an Army tutor, for refusing to give his son, who was for a few months a pupil of Mr. Lascelles, a certificate of good moral character, and has claimed damages— For trouble and expense in obtaining a dispensation with the production of such certificate from the Military Authorities; and inducing them to admit his son as a candidate without such certificate"; is this the case to which the Secretary of State for War alluded as the only case which had occurred during three years in which the certificate of good moral character was dispensed with; from whom have the fullest inquiries into this candidate's character been obtained; and have the War Office authorities asked Mr. Lascelles for any explanation of his refusal to give the certificate of character?

MR. BRODRICK

This is the case to which I alluded in which an exception had been made to the rule. The fact that the question is sub judice in the Law Courts would render it unfair to both parties that any statement should be made on the subject.

MR. MAC NEILL

Was not the War Office aware that action was to be taken, and was Mr. Lascelles allowed to withhold the character?

MR. BRODRICK

The War Office have the whole case before them. It is not desirable I should now go into it.

MR. MAC NEILL

I do not ask that. But is it a fact that the tutor has never been asked for information?

MR. BRODRICK

The War Office have received such information.