HC Deb 10 February 1902 vol 102 cc841-2
CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, seeing that it is laid down in the War Office Regulations that the Remount Department is a branch of the Department of the Quartermaster General, whose duty it is to advise the Secretary of State for War, and that responsibility for the recent disclosures in connection with the purchase of Remounts in Hungary rests under the regulations with the War Office, whether he will consent to extend the promised inquiry so that the conduct of all concerned may be investigated.

MR. BRODRICK

As I have already stated to the House, the Military Court of Inquiry will confine itself to General Truman's personal responsibility for the effective discharge by his Department of the duties which have fallen on it in connection with the war. The present Quartermaster General is ready to accept the fullest responsibility which can properly fall upon him, but the actual working of the Remounts Department is the business of General Truman, and I am not prepared to reduce the value of the inquiry by extending it to others less directly concerned.

MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)

May I ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will ensure that the inquiry into the administration of the Remount Department shall have power to take evidence on their behalf and to compel the attendance of witnesses.

MR. BRODRICK

I informed the House the other day that the inquiry would be upon oath and a Report would be presented.

CAPTAIN NORTON

Will the evidence be published?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)

I was going to ask how much of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry will be published, so as to make it known to the public.

MR. BRODRICK

I have no objection to the publication of the whole of the proceedings.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision, and consent to the appointment of a Committee of the House?

MR. BRODRICK

I cannot, in any circumstances, consent to an inquiry by a Committee of this House at this stage. The whole of the officers who were engaged on this business are engaged at the present time from morning till night. I cannot call them from the War Office, nor can I put the whole Department, which has very heavy work to do at this moment, on an inquiry which would inevitably entail some failure in the public service.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)

Why is the Quartermaster General's Department, that is responsible for the conduct of this Remount Department, not to be inquired into?

MR. BRODRICK

The branch of the Quartermaster General's Department which is involved is to be inquired into.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

It is all involved.

MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

Will the Imperial Yeomanry Committee be subject to inquiry?

[No answer was returned,]