§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council as such has any authority over military affairs in this country; and, if so, whence that authority is derived.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonThe Army Council has authority over military affairs in this country by virtue of the letters patent; of course, full control is preserved to Parliament, and to Parliament the Secretary of State is made directly responsible.
§ MR. BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state how, and by whom, a meeting of the Army Council can be summoned; whether its meetings are held at fixed intervals, and, if so, at what intervals; and whether any complete and official record is kept of all its proceedings.
§ MR. HALDANEThe meetings are summoned, whenever necessary, by the secretary under instruction from the Secretary of State. A record is kept of the decisions arrived at.