§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked the Under-Secretary for War whether, having regard to the statement made on June 21st last by the Secretary of State for War in the late Administration, that the resignation by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge of the Commandership-in-Chief of the Army would take effect on October 1, the name of his successor in that position would be announced now or before discussion in Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates? In asking the question the hon. and learned Member said he wished to call attention to a very objectionable variation from the ordinary practice of the House. A Minister of the Crown was perfectly entitled to refuse to answer a question, but the Under Secretary for War went further, and told him a statement would be made in the House of Lords in which the question he had put down would be answered, and he was to get his information there. As a Member of the House of Commons he objected to obtaining information anywhere but from his place in Parliament.
§ MR. SPEAKERpointed out that a question of Order did not arise in the matter.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLNo, but it is a question of practice closely bordering on privilege. [Ministerial cries of"Oh!" and Opposition cheers.] What he wanted to know was, whether what the Under Secretary did was usual or not. In his own experience he had never known such an answer to be given.
§ MR. BRODRICKsaid, the hon. and learned Member was under a misapprehension. He asked whether, before the Army Estimates were taken, a statement would be made as to the new Commander-in-Chief, and he informed him that a statement would be made in both Houses. The hon. Member then pressed him as to the nature of the statement, and he said it would be better not to anticipate it. If the hon. Member now pressed for further information, he had not the least objection to stating that when His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge relinquished the Commander-ship-in-Chief of the Army that Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley would assume the position.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked when the Government determined to appoint Lord Wolseley, and whether they were aware that in 1889 Lord Wolseley made a public apology, which was read in that House by Mr. Stanhope, Secretary for War, in reference——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! The hon. Member must see that that is a question of which he should give notice.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLTomorrow, Sir.