§ COLONEL KENYON-SLANEY (Shropshire, Newport)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Report of the War Office Reorganisation Committee, published on the 29th February, has been approved by his Majesty's Government; if so, whether it is proposed to give immediate effect to the proposals contained in it; and whether the recommendations in the Report are to be considered as binding on the War Office.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.No Reports of Committees can ever be binding on the Executive Government. As regards the particular representations contained in the Report referred to, and which have been recently published, they have not yet been considered by the Army Council, which was brought into existence in accordance with the recommendations of the first Report of the Committee. In these circumstances I am not yet prepared to state the opinions of the Government on the proposals.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)On the fourth successive day I have to ask when this Report is likely to be in the hands of Members.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURSince the right hon. Gentleman first put the Question to me I have looked further into the matter, and I shall be glad to give the House, if it cares to have it, a succinct account of what has happened. The Report, however, is actually in the Vote Office at the present moment, as probably a great number of Members of the House are aware.