§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what steps, if any, did Sir Neville Lyttelton take to inquire into the irregularities in the transactions of the sales and refunds to contractors, to which the attention of the headquarters staff at Pretoria had been called by the officer commanding the Bloemfontein District in March, 1903, and which had been in operation since the middle of 902; what report, if any, did Sir Neville 240 Lyttelton make to the War Office at home in reference to these irregularities and whether the communications, if any, between Sir Neville Lyttelton and the War Office with respect to the sales and refunds to contractors will be presented, to the House.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War what explanation, if any, have the War Office authorities to give for the fact that the orders of the War Office given by cablegram that reports be sent each month by cablegram to the War Office showing receipts on account of stores, supplies, remounts, etc., sold by the Army in South Africa to civilian authorities or to private buyers, were ignored, and that these returns were never furnished; and what action, if any, did the War Office authorities take in view of this neglect on the part of the office of the Director of Supplies to obey these orders from the centre of authority in military affairs at home.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR. WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FOESTER,) Belfast, W.These points fall within the scope of the inquiry to be held by the Royal Commission, which will be empowered to call for all Papers necessary. I am not, therefore, in a position to reply to the hon. Member.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLsaid the House was entitled to the information, required in his specific Questions.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERsaid it I would be given to the judicial tribunal.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLsaid the right hon. Gentleman was asked what communications had passed. These things were within his knowledge, and information should not be refused.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman has asked his Questions and received his reply.