§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)On behalf of the hon. Member for the Lichfield Division of Staffordshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the point as to the powers conferred on provost marshal's assistants in time of war; and if he can state what those powers will be.
§ MR. HALDANEYes, Sir, and it is intended to draw up a code of rules for 1489 the guidance of the provost marshal in the field and his assistants in charge of prisons in the field. Such code will admit of some elasticity to meet varied condition of climate, locality, etc.
§ *Sir CHARLES DILKEasked if there would be regulations as to the kind of people to be appointed to this office.
§ MR. HALDANEThat is one of the points we are dealing with. The office is an important one, and we are endeavouring to make sure the right people are appointed.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEWill the rules be laid on the Table of the House, or, if not, will any document be laid before Parliament on the subject?
§ MR. HALDANEI think my best course will be to undertake to lay the rules before Parliament.
§ MR. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)Will they receive the sanction of Parliament before coming into operation?
§ MR. HALDANEIf necessity arises they can be discussed after they have been laid on the Table. They will, however, be framed with the utmost care, and I hope there will be no necessity for discussing them.