HC Deb 21 April 1904 vol 133 cc844-5
* MR. REA (Gloucester)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the court of inquiry held on the 5th December, 1903. to consider the case of Lieutenant R. Creen of the 6th V.B. The King's Liverpool Regiment, he will give particulars of the information given to Lieutenant Creen, before the holding of the inquiry, as to its scope and the nature of the charges he would have to answer; what were the particulars of the charges which were made against Lieutenant Creen at the inquiry; what is the name of the officer stated to have been called as a witness by Lieutenant Creen on his behalf; and whether officers of Volunteer battalions have a right to see the accounts of the expenditure of officers' subscriptions; and, if so, what procedure is open to them if such information is refused.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.

Lieutenant Creen having submitted copies of correspondence on his case to the General Officer Commanding, who in turn submitted them to the War Office, the Secretary of State ordered a court of inquiry to investigate the subject of this correspondence. The actual instructions to the court were "To inquire into the circumstances which led to the Officer Commanding the 8th Regimental District having called on Lieutenant Creen to resign his commission, and to report thereon." From this it is clear that Lieutenant Creen did not require any special information. The officer called as a witness by him was Lieutenant Radford. In accordance with the rules of the corps, a balance sheet of the accounts, other than those dealing with public funds, and which include, among many items, officers' subscriptions, is prepared annually, audited by the finance committee, and posted in the orderly room; but there does not appear to be any rule under which individual officers can demand an inspection of the details of this account.

* MR. REA

put a further Question, but Mr. ARXOLH-FORSTER said he knew nothing of the details. The case had been adjudicated upon by a competent court.