HC Deb 10 April 1905 vol 144 cc1039-40
MR. LAMBERT

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Defence Committee approve of a double system of recruiting necessitated by foreign-service and short-service Armies; and will he allow the House, without the intervention of the Government Whips, to express its opinion of the scheme.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

It is a question which would not come before the Defence Committee at all: it is entirely in the Departmental province of the Secretary of State for War.

MR. LAMBERT

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman reply to the second part of my Question.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Does the hon. Gentleman suggest that any question dealing with the Army and Navy is not to be under the direction of the Government? Because I cannot assent to that.

Forward to