§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Malta has yet furnished the Report asked for as to the military rank, if any, held by the Roman Catholic Archbishop, and the military honour paid to this prelate by the turning out of the guard when he passes; and, if so, will it be laid upon the Table of the House, together with all the correspondence on the subject.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The Report in question has been furnished. It appears that the practice under which the military guard mounted at the main guard of the Palace Valetta turns out to the archbishop has been in existence for over a century. This is done on the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the concurrence of the War Department. I do not think that it would add any useful information were I to lay Papers upon the Table as suggested in the Question.