§ MR. NIELDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is customary for the Army Council to act upon reports as to the personal conduct and fitness of individual officers which are not obtained officially and in writing.
§ MR. HALDANEThe reply is in the negative.
§ MR. NIELDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will 1593 take steps to see that in future the principles of elementary justice are applied in dealing with officers in the same manner pursued in civilian cases, and that the only evidence which shall be acted upon by the Army Council in such matters should be in writing signed by the person responsible for the statement, and that such statement, in accordance with the regulations, shall be forwarded or shown to the officer in question before the matter is considered by the Army Council and an opportunity be given to him to lodge his reply in writing.
§ MR. HALDANEThe procedure proposed by the hon. Member is that laid down in the King's Regulations for the guidance of officers whose duty it is to report on officers under their command. If the hon. Member will look at the changes made in the Regulations he will find that his suggestions have already been carried out.