HC Deb 08 July 1907 vol 177 cc1151-2
MR. LEA

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the following officers of the Army on the active list draw any pay or allowances, and, if so, will he state the amount which each draws respectively: Field-Marshal H.M. the German Emperor, Field-Marshal H.I.M. the Emperor of Austria, General H.R.H. Prince Christian, General H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland, General H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, General H.M. the King of Spain.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. HALDANE, Haddingtonshire)

The appointments held by these distinguished personages are purely honorary and they receive no emoluments as officers of the Army.

MR. LEA

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the colonelcies-in-chief of four cavalry regiments and three infantry regiments are held by foreign potentates; whether the latter draw any pay and allowances for that office, and, moreover, when deputations from these regiments go abroad to visit their colonels do the expenses incurred in these visits fall on Army funds; and, if so, will he state what has been the amount so incurred during the last ten years, showing the amount against each year respectively.

MR. HALDANE

The appointments referred to are purely honorary. The expenses involved by the attendance on foreign sovereigns of the authorised representatives of the regiments concerned are borne by Army funds. No special record has been kept of the expenditure incurred in the past ten years, but under the existing procedure the average cost is estimated to be about £65 per annum.

MR. LEA

Am I to take it that this amount of £65 a year is the whole cost incurred by the British taxpayer for a deputation of four or five officers going to Berlin, or St. Petersburg, or Vienna?

MR. HALDANE

Yes. I have myself taxed the Bills on several occasions, and they were less than £30.

MR. LEA

Then do the expenses fall upon the officers themselves who form the deputation?

MR. HALDANE

No. It must be remembered the officers are entertained when they get there, and this accounts for the small expenditure. The small expenditure we incur is one which I consider is most beneficial in the cause of peace.