§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the inquiry promised into the details of the stoppage of payment by Messrs. Cuby's Bank, Gibraltar, with reference to the regimental funds in the hands of that bank, can he now state the result of the inquiry, and who is held responsible for those funds, and what dividend has been paid; whether he is aware that two regimental canteens have lost £800 and £900 respectively, and that one of these canteens requested permission to cease banking at Cuby's, which permission had been refused; have steps been taken to inquire into the action of those senior officers who entrusted such funds to a private bank instead of to a recognised bank; and who allowed balances in excess of the regulations to accumulate.
(Answer.) This matter has been fully considered by the confidential Committee presided over by General Sir Reginald Gipps, and the necessary disciplinary action has been taken by the Commander-in-Chief. Deficiencies affecting regimental institutes have, by a very recent Army Order, been brought under the regulations dealing with the responsibility for losses of regimental property. I may point out to the hon. Member that the regulations do not fix a maximum to the bank balances of regimental institutes.—(War Office.)