QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 1 August 1908)

§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the post of Director-General of Army Finance has been abolished, and, if so, can he state when, in what manner, and for what reason this abolition was effected, and what provision has been made for carrying on in future the duties hitherto performed by that officer.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Order in Council of the 10th August, 1904, defining the functions of the Director of Army Finance, and charging him with the duty, among others, of advising the administrative officers at the War Office and in commands on all questions of Army expenditure, has any effect in defining the functions of the newly appointed and differently named official by whom the Director-General of Army Finance has now been replaced; if so, will he state whether that Order in Council now applies to the functions of this new official as fully in all respects as it did to those of the Director-General of Army Finance; and, if not, can he inform the House whether, and, if so, how it is proposed to secure that the powers and duties of the new official shall be in every respect the same as those hitherto administered by the Director-General of Army Finance.

§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. ACLAND,) Yorkshire, Richmond
I can only refer the hon. Member to the printed reply which I gave on Thursday to the Question by the hon. and gallant Member for West Dorset. The hon. Member need have no fear that the powers of the officer who will succeed Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson on his retirement will be in any way modified as regards his functions as accounting officer.

§ MR. BOWLES
Will the powers or duties of the new officer be modified in any way?

§ MR. ACLAND
As a matter of fact it is intended to modify the duties to some slight extent in regard to contracts purely. The contract questions will go to the Director-General of Contracts, as there is no reason why contract matter should be sent to the Finance Officer.

§ MR. BOWLES
Will the change be carried out by Order in Council?

§ MR. ACLAND
I must ask for notice of that Question.