HC Deb 29 June 1905 vol 148 cc543-4
MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W. R. Elland)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War by whose authority it was that the return of 31st July, 1902, requiring monthly reports of sales in South Africa, was cancelled upon 24th April, 1903.

MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the gentleman responsible for the order for monthly returns of all sales and repurchases of Government stores in South Africa not having been carried out, and for the cancelling of this order in April, 1903, is at present engaged in military or civil duties; and whether, if so, he is to be relieved of these duties pending the investigation of the Royal Commission appointed to investigate all matters connected with these sales and repurchases.

* MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORT

The responsibility for the action mentioned will form part of the inquiry by the Royal Commission. I am not, therefore, in a position to give the hon. Members any information on the points raised.

MR. TREVELYAN

May I ask whether the responsibility for the return of 31st July, 1902, is a different responsibility to that by which that return was cancelled? The right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for India took the responsibility for calling for it.

* MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORT

I understood my right hon. friend to say that be was not prepared to state to the House his information as to the responsibility for the reports not having been furnished.

MR. TREVELYAN

Many of us understood him to decline to take the responsibility of saying who had refused to send the return.

* MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORT

No, Sir

MR. LABOUCHERE

My Question is whether this particular gentleman is to be relieved of his duties pending the decision of the Commission.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I can give no undertaking of that kind. Where the responsibility lay will be a matter for the decision of the tribunal.

MR. LABOUCHERE

asked whether the Secretary of State for India, who was at the War Office at the time, would be consulted.

* MR. GIBSON BOWLES

asked whether the Commission were to investigate the responsibility for failures to make the returns as well as the other questions.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

It is almost inevitable that this question should be discussed by the Commission.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

Could anyone authorise the suppression of an order except the Secretary of State for War?

[No Answer was returned.]