§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office when he expects to be able to communicate to the House the recommendations of the War Office 1230 Inquiry Committee of which he was appointed Chairman in 1898; and what are the reasons for delaying the reforms in the War Department.
* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSThe question of the hon. Member assumes that the recommendations of the Committee will be communicated to the House, but the Secretary of State has given no decision on the matter. In consequence of great pressure of work in the War Office, of which the members of the Committee have their full share, it has been impossible to hold meetings for the consideration of the chairman's draft report. No important change in the distribution of work that might be decided upon could in any case be carried out at the present time without disadvantage to the public service.