HC Deb 10 June 1901 vol 94 cc1473-4
CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, seeing the importance of the recently published Report upon the War Office, coupled with the fact that its publication immediately followed the passage of the Vote upon which it might have been discussed, he will say whether any opportunity will be afforded of considering the Report during the present session.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I am afraid I can give no pledge to the hon. Gentleman as to placing any time at the disposal of the House for the discussion of this Report.

MR. MATHER (Lancashire, Rossendale)

As a member of the War Office Organisation Committee may I ask whether, having regard to the instruction given by the Secretary of State for War when it entered on its inquiry that the subject was one of great importance and great urgency, the right hon. Gentleman will make some arrangement for the Report to be discussed in the House of Commons, provided it is necessary that such a course should be adopted, before the Secretary of State puts the scheme embodied in the Report into operation.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I agree that it would be a very unfortunate thing if the absence of discussion in this House were to hamper the Secretary of State in acting upon the Report, but that I can assure him is not the case. My right hon. friend is considering the Report at present, and I conceive he would not delay any action he thought fit to take on the ground that the Report had not been discussed in this House.

CAPTAIN NORTON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, seeing that the Report will change the entire military system of the country, he will not consider it advisable to give the House one day other than the days allotted to Supply for the consideration of this question.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman that the Report suggests an entire reconstruction of the British Army.