§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, by whom at present is the office of Judge Advocate - General filled, and who is the Minister of the Crown responsible for the advice tendered to the Crown with reference to the administration of military law; and whether, having regard to the various questions of difficulty and complication which have arisen with reference to the military and civil status of Lord Dundonald, and the absence of a responsible Minister from either House of Parliament to explain that status and describe the points of difference between military and common law, the office of Judge Advocate-General will be restored to its former position of a Parliamentary office held by a Minister of the Crown responsible for advice on matters of military law to Parliament.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon Gentleman is aware that this office is now filled by Sir Francis Jenne. The Government do not contemplate going back to the originally and, I think, almost universally condemned system [Cries of "No"]—well, largely condemned system by which the Judge Advocate-General was a Minister of the Crown. We prefer the present practice, which was adopted after considerable deliberation.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWho is the Minister of the Crown responsible to this House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Minister responsible for dealing with these matters is the Secretary for War.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWho knows nothing whatever about them.