§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he 623 can state what action will be taken, by court-martial, by reprimand, or otherwise, to determine the responsibility for the Aldershot casualties, and to impose upon those found responsible any appropriate penalties; and whether the contractors, if any, who failed to supply the troops with food will be struck oft' the lists in future, or otherwise dealt with in respect of their breach of contract.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMAs I have already explained to the House in the debate on Army Estimates of the 19th inst.,† the steps taken by the Commander-in-Chief are deemed sufficient. The civilians employed had no contract with the Government. The question of their continued employment rests with the officer commanding the corps concerned, who will no doubt take proper notice of what occurred.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the men sent to hospital at Aldershot on account of illness caused by the heat on the 11th inst. are subjected to hospital stoppages, and whether the allotments to the families of such as are married will therefore cease; and whether any pensions will be payable to the widows, if any, of those who died on that day.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe regulations admit of the full remission of the stoppage in such cases, the discretion rests entirely with the general officer in command. The separation allowance to the families will not cease. The question of pension will be referred to the Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund, who have control of the funds available for this purpose.