§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Attorney-General has been consulted with reference to the putting of the Public Prosecutor in motion with reference to the taking of proceedings against persons to whom may be traced the destruction of documents in connection with the sales and refunds to contractors in South Africa, to which reference has been made in the Report of the Butler Committee; and what steps, if any, do the War Office authorities propose to take with a view of bringing to justice the destroyers of these documents.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The reply to the second part of the Question cannot be given until the Royal Commission has reported.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhy cannot all these documents be laid before 242 the Attorney-General, as in the Whitaker Wright case?
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)Does the inquiry prevent the documents beings laid before the Attorney-General before the Commission reports?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo; the whole of these documents and the Report of the Committee have been laid before the Public Prosecutor, but there is no evidence to justify prosecution.
§ MR WHITLEYApart from the action of the Public Prosecutor, does the right hon. Gentleman say there has not been any destruction of documents?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo, I do not say anything of the kind. I do not know; inquiry will reveal whether there has been or not.